The Free Electrons in Active Nitrogen.
Abstract
The resonance shift in an S-band cavity was used to measure the free-electron density n in a continuous flow of rf excited active nitrogen in the mm Hg pressure range. N varied between 10 to the 7th power and 6 x 10 to the 9th power per cc and depended distinctly on the oxygen contamination. The ions formed presumably are NO+. By admixing known small amounts of nitric oxide to the stream it could be demonstrated that the ionization rate indeed varied linearly with the amount of NO added. At high pressures and large n the electron removal was by recombination and at low pressures and small n it was governed by ambipolar diffusion. The value of Dp/alpha was estimated at 10 to the 9th power mm Hg/cm. Since the NO must be practically completely dissociated by the active nitrogen, the required large ionization rate indicates that the mechanism probably involves formation of excited nitrogen molecules as an intermediate step. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0289038
Entities
People
- A. L. Gardner
- W. B. Kunkel
Organizations
- University of California, Berkeley