Direct measurement of the thermal rate coefficient for electron attachment to ozone in the gas phase, 300-550 K: implications for the ionosphere.
Attachment of thermal electrons to O3 was studied in 133 Pa He between 300-550 K; the process is extremely inefficient. The rate coefficient increases sharply with temperature from 0.9 to 5 x 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1) (+/-30%) and comparison to kinetic energy measurements suggests internal energy can drive the reaction. These determinations account for competing processes of diffusion, recombination, and electron detachment reactions, and imply that no significant zero-energy resonance cross section exists, contradicting recent electron-beam results that call for substantial revision of ionospheric models.
Van Doren
Jane M
JM
Department of Chemistry, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA 01610-2395, USA.
Miller
Thomas M
TM
Williams
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Viggiano
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