Objections to the N₂⁺ + e⁻ dissociative recombination coefficients inferred from analysis of Atmosphere Explorer measurements

It is shown that Orsini, et al's inference, from an analysis of Atmosphere Explorer data, that N 2 + ions in vibrationally excited states exhibit dissociative recombination coefficients in excess of 10 −6 cm³/sec is incorrect. From the theory of the dissociative recombination process, an upper limit of ∼ 10 −7 cm³/sec is obtained for recombination by N 2 + ions in a particular vibration state at F‐region electron temperatures. Available laboratory data on dissociative recombination of simple ions support this conclusion. As a possible alternative for the apparent rapid loss of vibrationally excited ions in the F‐region it is suggested that the reaction N 2 + + O → N + NO + may exhibit the necessary increase in reaction rate with vibrational excitation in the ions.