Infrared emission from the reaction of high‐velocity atomic oxygen with graphite and polyethylene

A fast atomic oxygen source has been used to bombard samples of graphite and polyethylene. Infrared fluorescence is readily observed above both surfaces that is consistent with the expected primary combustion products CO, CO 2 , and OH. Emitter production efficiencies (defined as the ratio of emitters over incident O atoms) for both targets have been estimated from the observed radiation intensities. These are ∼10 −2 for CO and ∼10 −3 for C0 2 above both samples and ∼10 −2 for OH above polyethylene.