Electron temperature dependence of the dissociative recombination of Ne3+ions with electrons

A low-temperature microwave afterglow mass spectrometer apparatus employing microwave heating of the electrons has been used to study the dissociative recombination of electrons with triatomic molecular ions Ne 3 + , which are the dominant afterglow ions at about 80K and 6 Torr of neon. The electron temperature dependence of the recombination coefficient of Ne 3 + ions with electrons is found to follow the relation alpha (Ne 3 + )=(1.1+or-0.1)*10 -6 (T e (K)/300) -0.36+or-0.04 cm 3 s -1 over the range 80