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Bowers, M. T.

Publications and source records attributed to Bowers, M. T..

15 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

A reanalysis of the HCO(+)/HOC(+) abundance ratio in dense interstellar clouds

New theoretical and experimental results have prompted a reinvestigation of the HCO(+)/HOC(+) abundance ratio in dense interstellar clouds. These results pertain principally but not exclusively to the reaction between HOC(+) and H2, which was previously calculated by DeFrees et al. (1984) to possess a large activation energy barrier. New calculations, reported here, indicate that this activation energy barrier is quite small and may well be zero. In addition, experimental results at higher energy and temperature indicate strongly that the reaction proceeds efficiently at interstellar temperatures. If HOC(+) does indeed react efficiently with H2 in interstellar clouds, the calculated HCO(+)/HOC(+) abundance ratio rises to a substantially greater value under standard dense cloud conditions than is deduced via the tentative observation of HOC(+) in Sgr B2.

Jarrold, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Loss of CO/+/ ions by reaction with H2 in OMC-1

The temperature dependence of the rate constant for the reaction CO(+)+H2 yields HCO(+) has been measured in the temperature range 100-390 K. The rate constant has no dependence on temperature in this range, indicating that at the temperatures prevalent in OMC-1, the rate of loss of CO(+) by reaction with H2 is much too large to allow for the observed column abundance under steady-state conditions.

Huntress, W. T., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Temperature dependence of the hydrogen atom abstraction reactions of Cl/+/ and HCl/+/ with H2

Rate constants are reported for the reactions of Cl(+) and HCl(+) with H2 over the temperature range 150-400 K. The Cl(+) reaction has a positive temperature dependence that follows the Arrhenius form k1 = A exp(-169/T). The reaction of HCl(+) has a negative temperature dependence that follows the form k2 = AT to the -0.6 power. The implication of these results for interstellar chemistry is commented on. Schematic potential surfaces for the reactions are suggested.

Cates, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Ion chemistry in interstellar space

The temperature dependence of the bimolecular reactions of Cl(+), HCl(+), CH(+), CH2(+), N(+), NH(+), and NH2(+) reacting with H2 have been investigated. For Cl(+) and HCl(+) rate constants have been determined over the temperature range of 150 to 400 K. Preliminary data have been obtained for the other systems. The Cl(+)/H2 system shows a weak, but significant positive temperature dependence that could be important in interstellar modeling studies. The HCl(+)/H2 system shows a substantial negative temperature dependence with the rate constant approaching the collision rate at low temperatures. The association reaction CH3(+) + HCN yields CH3 HCN(+) has been theoretically modeled using statistical phase space theory. Both radiative and collisional stabilization have been included. The results are compared with experiment with good agreement obtained over wide variations in T and p. This system is potentially important in the mechanism of large molecule synthesis in interstellar space.

Bowers, M. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An ICR study of an association reaction at low pressure

The reactions of the gaseous ion CH3+ with HCN are investigated, using the ion cyclotron resonance technique. The pressure range of the experiment was 1 x 10 to the -6 to 3 x 10 to the -4 Torr with a rate coefficient of 2 x 10 to the -10 cu cm/sec. Good agreement was found between rate coefficients determined in the trapping mode at the low end of the pressure range and the drift mode at the high end of the pressure range. It is shown that the association reaction of CH3 with HCN follows second order kinetics throughout the entire pressure range of the experiment. The reaction is interpreted in terms of both a saturated three-body and a radiative association mechanism. Some explanations for the disagreement of the rate coefficient with that reported previously are also given.

Mcewan, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Reactions of ions in excited electronic states - Excited N2/+/ ion reacting with N2 to yield N3/+/ and N

Study of the mechanism of formation of the N3(+) ion from the bimolecular reaction of excited N2(+) ions in gaseous N2. Using ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy, an attempt is made to inquire more deeply than hitherto into the origin of the N3(+) ions and to determine the rate constant for their formation and the limits on the lifetime of the reactant excited N2(+) ions.

Bowers, M. T.↗