LABORATORY STUDIES OF UPPER ATMOSPHERE CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Abstract
A LABORATORY RESE RCH PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED WHICH DEALS WITH MEASUREME T OF THE RA OF OXYGEN AND NITROGEN ATOM REACTIONS AND WHICH CLARIFIES THE ORIGIN AND MECHANISM OF ASSOCIATED AFTERGLOWS. O- and N-atoms are generated in microwave gas discharges ixed with other reactant or diluent gases, and pumped through a flow tube nd r s eady-state conditio s. The nature of the air afterglow, nitrogen afterglow, and blue nitric oxide afterglow are discussed, and new results are presente on the effect of five diluent gases on the rate of the light-producing process of the air afterglow. The efficiency of these diluents as third bodies in the recombination r ac ion O + O + YIELDS NO2 + M is also determined. New experiments on the i termolecular recombination of O with O2 to form ozone yield a lower rate constant than is currently quoted in the literature. Further work on this important reaction is outlined which will help explain the composition of the upper atmosphere. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0286635
Entities
People
- Frederick Kaufman
- John R. Kelso
Organizations
- Army Research Office