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Results for “RECOMBINATION COEFFICIENT”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1961

Effect of Surface Preparation and Gas Flow on Nitrogen Atom Surface Recombination

The effects of surface preparation and gas flow on the recombination of nitrogen atoms at copper and platinum surfaces were determined. Atoms were generated by an electrodeless 2450-megacycle-per-second discharge, and their concentration was measured by gas-phase titration with nitric oxide. Test surfaces were either vacuum-evaporated films or spheres machined from bulk metal and cemented around small glass-bead thermistors. Heat released by recombination was measured as the difference in electrical energy required to maintain a given thermistor temperature with and without a catalytic surface exposed. Recombination coefficients measured at flow velocities of 1120, 1790, 2250, and 3460 centimeters per second and at pressures of 0.42 and 0.59 millimeter of mercury showed that flow conditions had no effect. The results were also independent of atom concentration. A rough indication of the temperature dependence was obtained; it was greater for copper than for platinum. Platinum films deposited on platinum or on glass had the same activity - about 3 percent of the atoms impinging recombined. With copper, however, the glass substrate greatly reduced the percent of atoms recombining over that of a bulk copper substrate where 4 percent of the impinging atoms recombined. This effect could be overcome by depositing a second film on top of the first. Bulk metal samples were subjected to various surface treatments including polishing, degreasing with a chlorinated hydrocarbon, washing with nitric acid, and rinsing with water. Polished, degreased platinum had low activity compared to an evaporated film, but nitric acid treatment made it equivalent. Polished, degreased copper was only slightly less active than a copper film; nitric acid etching decreased the activity still further, probably by preferentially exposing facets of low catalytic efficiency.

Prok, George M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Measurements of recombination of electrons with HCO(plus) ions

Recombination coefficients of electrons with HCO(+) ions were determined with a microwave afterglow/mass spectrometer apparatus. Afterglow measurements of electron density decays in neon-hydrogen-carbon monoxide mixtures are correlated with the decay of mass-identified ion currents to the wall of the microwave cavity. At the appropriate partial pressures of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the mixture, the ion HCO(+) dominates the ion composition and its wall current approximately tracks the electron density decay curve. From recombination controlled electron density decay curves, the values alpha (HCO(+)) = (3.3 + or - 0.5) and (2.0 + or - 0.3) 0.0000001 cu cm/sec are obtained at 205 and 300 K, respectively. The implications of these results for models of polyatomic molecule formation in dense interstellar clouds are briefly discussed.

Leu, M. T.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Mechanistic model for catalytic recombination during aerobraking maneuvers

Several mechanistic models are developed to predict recombination coefficients for use in heat shield design for reusable surface insulation (RSI) on aerobraking vehicles such as space shuttles. The models are applied over a temperature range of 300 to 1800 K and a stagnation pressure range of 0 to 3,000 Pa. A four parameter model in temperature was found to work best; however, several models (including those with atom concentrations at the surface) were also investigated. Mechanistic models developed with atom concentration terms may be applicable when sufficient data becomes available. The requirement is shown for recombination experiments in the 300 to 1000 K and 1500 to 1850 K temperature range, with deliberate concentration variations.

Willey, Ronald J.↗
NASA NTRS1970

An investigation of the ionospheric D region at sunrise

The growth over sunrise of the C and D layers of the ionosphere is investigated. The model which is analyzed includes the negative ion species O(-), O2(-), O3(-), O4(-), NO3(-), CO3(-), and CO4(-). Ionization sources due to galactic cosmic rays, precipitated electrons, ionization of NO by scattered Lyman alpha radiation, and the direct solar radiation ionization are also included. The photodetachment of most of the negative ions is discussed, as well as the time variation of these parameters. The time variations of the electron, negative ion, and positive ion densities are calculated over sunrise. From these data, the mesospheric C and D layer development is plotted. Several model parameters are varied until the best agreement with experimentally determined electron densities is obtained. The results are discussed in light of several atmospheric parameters including the O and NO concentrations and the electron-ion recombination coefficient.

Turco, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Measurements of recombination of electrons with H3O(plus)-(H2O)n series ions

Recombination coefficients of electrons with ions of the hydrated hydronium ion series (H3O(+))(H2O)n, where n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, were determined with a microwave afterglow/mass spectrometer apparatus. Afterglow measurements of electron density decays in helium-water vapor mixtures are correlated with the decay of mass-identified ion currents to the wall of the microwave cavity. By varying the temperature of the gas and the partial pressure of the water vapor in the mixture, different groups of hydronium series ions are made to dominate the afterglow.

Leu, M. T.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The effect of secondary autoionization on dielectronic recombination.

Demonstration that, during the process of dielectronic recombination, the energy of a recombined ion after a resonance capture and subsequent stabilization may still be higher than the first ionization limit. If that happens, a secondary autoionization can take place and reduce the recombination coefficient. The importance of this effect is considered for iron ions Fe(9+) to Fe(13+).

Blaha, M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Model potential calculations of lithium transitions.

Semi-empirical potentials are constructed that have eigenvalues close in magnitude to the binding energies of the valence electron in lithium. The potentials include the long range polarization force between the electron and the core. The corresponding eigenfunctions are used to calculate dynamic polarizabilities, discrete oscillator strengths, photoionization cross sections and radiative recombination coefficients. A consistent application of the theory imposes a modification on the transition operator, but its effects are small for lithium. The method presented can be regarded as a numerical generalization of the widely used Coulomb approximation.

Caves, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Atomic recombination rate determination through heat-transfer measurement.

A theoretical and experimental demonstration is presented which shows that under suitable conditions the volume recombination coefficient can be determined by measuring the heat transfer rate into the wall of a cylinder through which a dissociated stream is passing. The experimental results obtained are in agreement with those of other investigators.

Park, C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Apparatus for study of plasmas at elevated temperatures

Microwave discharge plasmas take place within heated zone. Changes in weight of specimens in plasma as well as temperature of sample and plasma can be obtained, facilitating determinations of reaction rates and recombination coefficients.

Christian, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Apparatus for production, measurement and reaction studies of dissociated gases at elevated temperatures

An apparatus is described which is used for the controlled production, characterization, and study of dissociated gases in a microwave discharge at elevated temperatures. A unique feature is the ability to produce and study a microwave discharge plasma in the heated zone. This allows elevated temperature reactions to be studied in high concentrations of dissociated gases. Further, the system permits weight change measurements of specimens in the plasma, thus facilitating reaction rate determinations. Included is a description of a cavity for use on a 50-mm diameter cylindrical reactor. The effects of flow rate, pressure, temperature, power, metal sample, and sampling position on dissociation percentage of oxygen in the apparatus are described as well as a technique for sample temperature measurements in the plasma which permits determination of high temperature recombination coefficients and reaction rates.

Christian, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Study of plasmasphere dynamics using incoherent scatter data from Chatanika, Alaska radar facility

Results of the study of Chatanika incoherent scatter radar data and Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory satellite data are reported. Specific topics covered include: determination of the effective recombination coefficient in the auroral E region; determination of the location of the auroral oval; auroral boundary characteristics; and the relationship of auroral current systems, particle precipitation, visual aurora, and radar aurora.

Shelley, E. G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Low latitude middle atmosphere ionization studies

Low latitude middle atmosphere ionization was studied with data obtained from three blunt conductivity probes and one Gerdien condenser. An investigation was conducted into the effects of various ionization sources in the 40 to 65 Km altitude range. An observed enhancement of positive ion conductivity taking place during the night can be explained by an atmsopheric effect, with cosmic rays being the only source of ionization only if the ion-ion recombination coefficient (alpha sub i) is small(10 to the -7 power cu cm/s) and varies greatly with altitude. More generally accepted values of alpha sub i ( approximately equal to 3x10 to the -7 power cu cm/s) require an additional source of ionization peaking at about 65 Km, and corresponding approximately to the integrated effect of an X-ray flux measured on a rocket flown in conjunction with the ionization measurements. The reasonable assumption of an alpha sub i which does not vary with altitude in the 50-70 Km range implies an even greater value alpha sub i and a more intense and harder X-ray spectrum.

Bassi, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Variations in electron density in the middle latitude D-region above Urbana, Illinois

Electron density measurements made with the partial reflections technique above Urbana, Illinois (44 deg 10 min N, 88 deg 10 min W) were analyzed for day-to-day variations, seasonal variations, magnetic storm aftereffects, and stratosphere-ionosphere coupling effects. As well as showing a winter anomaly, the electron densities near 76 km were significantly lower in fall than in spring. Magnetic storm aftereffects of the type predicted by models of energetic electron precipitation at middle latitudes were observed. No strong correlations were found between stratospheric and D-region time series, or between the occurrence of stratospheric warmings and D-region changes. It is likely that most of the electron density variation was due to variations in the transport of minor neutral constituents. The spring-fall differences were also probably caused by differences in minor constituent concentrations rather than the effect of temperature changes on the recombination coefficient.

Wratt, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Midlatitude oxygen ultraviolet nightglow

A rocket-borne spectrometer measured the weak UV nightglow from 1240 to 1670 A in the altitude range 180-345 km above White Sands, New Mexico. Detection of nightglow emissions at the atomic oxygen lines (1304 and 1356 A) confirmed the existence of a weak midlatitude oxygen nightglow similar to the tropical airglow. Radiative recombination appeared to be the principal cause of the peak observed intensities of the atomic oxygen line emissions, though a maximum 25% contribution from mutual neutralization of O(+) and O(-) could also be contemplated. Partial radiative recombination coefficients are derived from the data.

Brune, W. H.↗