RATE OF RECOMBINATION OF NITROGEN-ATOMS

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 + N 2] 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. © 1979 American Institute of Physics.