Direct kinetic measurements on reactions of atomic carbon, C(3P), with O2 and NO at temperatures down to 15 K

A CRESU (Cinétique de Réaction en Ecoulement Supersonique Uniforme) apparatus has been used to measure rate coefficients for the reactions of C (3P) with O2 and NO at temperatures from 295 K down to 15 K. C (3P) atoms were, for the first time in a kinetic study, monitored directly by vacuum ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence. The rate coefficients for both reactions increase as the temperature is lowered, matching the expressions k(C+O2)=(4.9±0.8)×10−11 (T/298 K)−(0.32±0.08) cm3 molecule−1 s−1 and k(C+NO)=(1.5±0.4)×10−10 (T/298 K)−(0.16±0.14) cm3 molecule−1 s−1.