Recombination channels of molecular ions He 2 + and electrons

The dependence of the intensities of atomic lines and molecular bands emitted in the afterglow of a helium discharge on the electron temperature is used to identify the processes in which states of He and He ₂ ^* are populated. It is established that the formation of He^* atoms (n = 3, 4) in decaying helium plasma occurs principally on account of the associative recombination of vibrationally excited He ₂ ⁺ ions and electrons. Analysis of the experimental reuslts leads to the conclusion that the distribution of the molecular ions He ₂ ⁺ over vibrational states is strongly nonequilibrium.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 67–72, February, 1984.It remains to thank N. P. Penkin for discussions and for his interest in the work.