Measurements of Electron-Ion Recombination in a Thermal Cesium Plasma

Recombination was investigated by a previously described technique using a thermal Cs plasma generated by contact ionization of Cs vapor and thermionic emission of electrons. The values obtained agree with values predicted by the theory of collisional-radiative recombination. The conclusion is that recombination by electron-electron-ion collisions predominates for ionizations of 7 to 90% and plasma densities of 10/sup 12/ to 10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/, while dssociative recombination is of no importance. The rates of collisionalradiative recombination for Cs/sup +/ and H/sup +/ plasmas appear to be similar as predicted. (D.C.W.)