Laboratory investigation of the reaction NO++ O3→ NO2++ O2

Summary. The reaction of NO+ with O3 has been found to be unmeasurably slow at 300°K in laboratory flowing afterglow experiments, k < 10−14 cm³ sec−1. This reaction has conceivable importance as (1) a loss process for NO+ in the D region, where presently known loss processes are insufficient, (2) a possible source of NO2+, which has been observed in the ionosphere, and (3) a possible source of O2(¹Δg) in the atmosphere. The finding that the reaction is very slow weighs against its atmospheric importance. The reaction has been suggested as a possible NO+ loss process and NO2+ source in a disturbed atmosphere [Bortner, 1966] and as a possible source of O2(¹Δg) in auroras [Swider, 1972]. In addition, an ion of mass 46+, presumably NO2+, has been observed in the undisturbed ionosphere [Narcisi, 1967], and (1) is a candidate for this. All these proposals are of interest and are somewhat pressing, since (1) current NO+ loss processes are known to be insufficient, (2) known auroral O2(¹Δg) production processes are seriously deficient, and (3) no alternative source of NO2+ has been suggested. With this situation in mind we have attempted to determine the rate constant for (1) in the NOAA flowing afterglow facility.