Ionic reactions in thermal plasmas

Abstract

In this paper we present some data relating to reactions between ions, electrons and neutral molecules at thermal energies, which we have obtained using our variable-temperature SIFT, SIFDT and FALP apparatuses. The paper is structured in two parts. The first part is concerned with studies of ion–neutral reactions carried out using SIFT and SIFDT over the available temperature and centre-of-mass energy ranges, and some very recent results are highlighted. The second part is concerned with our FALP studies of ion–electron dissociative recombination, electron attachment and ion–ion recombination, again highlighting some of our most recent results in these areas.