Pressure and temperature variation of the electron-ion recombination coefficient in nitrogen

The electron-ion recombination coefficient αei in ionized nitrogen gas is investigated as to its variation with pressure (0.2 to 2 mm Hg) and electron temperature (92°K to 300°K) corresponding to various low electron energies. At 1.3 mm Hg, αei varies from about 8.5×10−7 cm3/sec at 300°K to 6.7×10−6 cm3/sec at 92°K, almost an order of magnitude difference. Discussion of the possible modes of recombination in a nitrogen gas plasma is given and dissociative recombination is found to be the most probable means of electron loss. Microwave transmission methods were used in this study.