title: Electron-catalyzed mutual neutralization of various anions with Ar+: evidence of a new plasma process.
abstract: The mutual neutralization of anions with Ar+ has been studied by variable electron and neutral density attachment mass spectrometry. Evidence of a previously unobserved plasma loss process, electron-catalyzed mutual neutralization (ECMN), e.g., SF6-+Ar+ + e-→neutrals + e-, is reported. Results for 10 species suggest that ECMN occurs generally and significantly affects the total ion-loss rate in plasmas with electron densities exceeding 10(10) cm-3. ECMN is discussed in the context of other known three-body plasma processes, the mechanisms for which appear insufficient to explain the observed effect. A mechanism for ECMN involving an incident electron facilitating energy transfer to the internal modes of the anion is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts 01731-3010, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Shuman
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bemish
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Viggiano