Rate of recombination of nitrogen atoms

Abstract

Decays of the concentration of N(⁴S) atoms in the Lewis–Rayleigh nitrogen afterglow were measured in a static mode, with a mass spectrometer that was calibrated against NO titration. The rate constant for recombination of N(⁴S) atoms with N₂ molecules as the third body [N(⁴S)+N(⁴S)+N₂→N₂+N₂] was determined as 7.2×10⁻³³ cm⁶ molecule⁻² sec⁻¹. This value is compared with the values obtained by previous investigators. The rate constant for the wall recombination process is also given.