Absolute State-Selected Cross Sections for Reactions Between Atmospheric Ions and Oxygen Atoms

Iowa State University, Ames IA

Investigators

Abstract

ATM-0001644 abstract Ng, Cheuk-Yiu A unique high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet facility at the Chemical Dynamics Beamline of the Advanced Light Source synchrotron machine would be used to measure absolute cross sections for charge transfer reactions of O with molecular ions that are of great importance to the modeling of ion-molecular reactions in the thermospheres of the Earth, Venus, and Mars. Single state selection techniques would be employed to measure these cross sections for individual rovibronic states of these ions. The proposed work is challenging but of great importance to the development of aeronomical models of planetary atmospheres and ionospheres.