O Atom Yields From Microwave Discharges In N2o Ar Mixtures

We have studied the products of Ar/N20 microwave discharges to determine their fitness as sources of atomic oxygen in discharge-flow reactors. For N20 feed rates below 10-20 micromol s−1, the discharge converts about 75 percent of the N20 to atomic oxygen, and in addition, produces small quantities of atomic nitrogen, generally less than 10 percent of the 0-atom product. At higher N20 feed rates the 0-atom production efficiency decreases, and some nitric oxide accompanies the 0-atoms out of the discharge.

This final report contains: The results of COCHISE (Cold Chemical Infrared Simulation Experiment) experiments involving the interaction of N2 with CO, O3(v) with N2 and the fluorescences of NO and N2; A theoretical discussion of O2/Ar and N2/Ar microwave discharges; Trajectory calculations involving the collisional relaxation of high vibrational-rotational states of O3 by Ar; The experimental determination of the intramolecular branching ratio of the (021) and (101) conbiation bands of CO2; A determination of the distribution of vibration sites of NO(v) from the reaction N(4S) + O2 yield NO(v) via multiphoton ionization; FAKIR (Flowing Atmospheric Kinetic Infrared Experiment) measurements of atomic oxygen production in the reaction between N(2D) and CO2 and the quenching of N(2D) by atomic oxygen; Both the visible and infrared fluorescence results from the LINUS (Laser Infrared Nuclear Simulation) project.