Effect of collisions on the resonance vibrational polarizability of gaseous SF<Subscript>6</Subscript> and CF<Subscript>4</Subscript> molecules

The density dependences of the absorption cross sections and refractivity are experimentally studied for the SF₆ and CF₄ molecules in pure gases in the region of their ν₃ infrared vibrational-rotational antisymmetric modes. The dispersions of the refractive index are determined for both compounds by the Kramers-Kronig transformation of the spectral data obtained, and, for the SF₆ isotopomers, they are also measured by the method of two-color interferometry. Strong nonlinear dependences of optical parameters and their dispersions on the gas density are observed. The values of second optical virial coefficient B _R (ν) obtained for pure SF₆ are more than an order of magnitude greater than the values found earlier for mixtures of SF₆ with buffer rare gases. The results of calculations of the second virial coefficients of the absorption cross section and refractivity in terms of the DID model of interacting dipoles are in agreement with the experimental data in the band wings. Correlations between the behavior of the spectral dependence of functions B _R (ν) and the parameters of model intermolecular potentials used in the calculations are found.     

FTIR spectroscopy and estimation of the global warming potential of CF3Br and C2F4

High-resolution (0.03 cm⁻¹) absolute infrared photoabsorption cross sections of bromotrifluoromethane (CF₃Br) and tetrafluoroethylene (C₂F₄) have been measured using Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy at temperatures between 213 and 296 K. The measured cross sections were subsequently used to estimate the radiative forcings and the global warming potentials of these two species.     

Cross sections and transport properties of Cl<Superscript>-</Superscript> ions in noble gases

We have used a simple semi-analytic — momentum transfer theory (MTT) to develop negative halogen ions/noble gases momentum transfer integral cross sections based on the available data for reduced mobility at 300 K as a function of E/N. The unfolded cross sections were validated or further improved by assuring a good agreement between our Monte Carlo (MC) calculated transport data and the available experimental results. The data are produced with an aim to provide plasma modellers with cross section data and transport coefficients. We have also calculated the net rates of elastic scattering and detachment.     

Direct measurement of the Rayleigh scattering cross section in various gases

Using the laser-based technique of cavity ring-down spectroscopy extinction measurements have been performed in various gases straightforwardly resulting in cross sections for Rayleigh scattering. For Ar and N₂ measurements are performed in the range 470-490 nm, while for CO₂ cross sections are determined in the wider range 470-570 nm. In addition to these gases also for N₂O, CH₄, CO, and SF₆ the scattering cross section is determined at 532 nm, a wavelength of importance for lidar applications and combustion laser diagnostics. In O₂ the cross section at 532 nm is found to depend on pressure due to collision-induced light absorption. The obtained cross sections validate the cross sections for Rayleigh scattering as derived from refractive indices and depolarization ratios through Rayleigh's theory at the few %-level, although somewhat larger discrepancies are found for CO, N₂O and CH₄.     

Electron-impact ionization cross sections and rates for ions of argon

A distorted-wave Born exchange (DWBE) approximation including relativistic correction is used to calculate the electron-impact ionization cross sections and rate coefficients for the highly charged ions Ar⁷⁺,…,Ar¹⁷⁺. The comparison of the calculated results with the experimental data and other theoretical calculations shows that the DWBE method is valid for these ions of argon. The calculated results for direct ionization cross sections and excitation autoionization were fitted by empirical formulas to meet the requirements of applications. A set of improved empirical formulas are used for the fast and accurate calculations of rate coefficients from the fit parameters of cross sections.     

Molekularstrahlmessungen von Stoßquerschnitten für Übergänge zwischen definierten Rotationszuständen zwei-atomiger Moleküle

Inelastic collision cross sections for transitions between specified rotational states designated by (J, M) have been measured in a molecular beam apparatus. With an electrostatic four pole field molecules in a specified rotational state are separated out of a molecular beam and focussed into a gas filled scattering chamber. Molecules which have been scattered by less than 1/2° are then collected in a second four pole field, located directly behind the scattering chamber, and are analyzed for their rotational state. From a comparison of the measured pressure dependence with calculated curves a determination of inelastic collision cross sections for specified quantum jumps is possible. Measured inelastic scattering cross sections for the transitions (2,0→3,0) are reported for the gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, CH₄, SF₆, H₂, O₂, Air, N₂O, H₂O, CF₂Cl₂. The values range between about 5 and 100 Ų in the order indicated. The scattering gases NH₃ und ND₃ yielded larger cross sections of about 600 Ų and, in addition, the transitions (3,0)→(2,0),(1,0)→(2,0), (2,0)→(1,0) and (3,0)→(1,0) were observed. Total cross sections for the same gases were also measured with the apparatus.     

SF6 ground-based infrared solar absorption measurements: long-term trend, pollution events, and a search for SF5CF3 absorption

Infrared solar spectra recorded with the Fourier transform spectrometer in the McMath solar telescope complex on Kitt Peak (31.9°N latitude, 111.6°W, altitude), southwest of Tucson, Arizona, have been analyzed to retrieve average SF₆ tropospheric mixing ratios over a two-decade time span. The analysis is based primarily on spectral fits to absorption by the intense, unresolved ν₃ band Q branch at . A best fit to measurements recorded with SF₆ near typical background concentrations yields a SF₆ increase in the average tropospheric mixing ratio from (10⁻¹² per unit volume) in March 1982 to in March 2002. The long-term increase by a factor of 3.34 over the time span is consistent with the rapid growth of surface mixing ratios measured in situ at Northern Hemisphere remote stations, though the infrared measurements show a large scatter. Average tropospheric mixing ratio enhancements above background by 2-3 orders of magnitude have been identified in spectra recorded on 5 days between November 1988 and April 1997. These spectra were individually analyzed in an attempt to detect the strongest 8- band of SF₅CF₃, a molecule recently identified with an atmospheric growth that has closely paralleled the rise in SF₆ during the past three decades. Absorption by the strongest SF₅CF₃ band was predicted to be above the noise level in the Kitt Peak spectrum with the highest average mean tropospheric SF₆ mixing ratio, assuming the reported atmospheric SF₅CF₃/SF₆ ratio and a room temperature absorption cross sections reported for the SF₅CF₃ 903-cm⁻¹ band. An upper limit of 8×10¹⁵ for the SF₅CF₃ total column was estimated for this case. We hypothesize that the highly elevated SF₆ levels above Kitt Peak resulted from a local release experiment rather than production via electrochemical fluoridation of intermediate products, the proposed source of atmospheric SF₅CF₃. The absence of the SF₅CF₃ feature in the spectra with elevated SF₆ is consistent with the absence of SF₅CF₃ reported in a pure SF₆ sample.     

Measurements of thermal electron attachment rate coefficients to molecules using an electron swarm technique

An existing electron swarm apparatus has been redesigned and upgraded. In particular, the new design incorporates a novel planar radioactive foil to form an integral part of the drift tube, allowing us to overcome inherent problems present in our earlier system which used a cylindrical radioactive source. In addition to this, substantial upgrades have been made to improve the gating and amplification electronics and the data acquisition system. This has resulted in a much greater signal to noise ratio and improved accuracy. This paper describes the upgraded apparatus and its use in obtaining thermal (300 K) attachment rate coefficients to a number of molecules. The quality of the measurements and data are illustrated through the measurement of the thermal attachment rate coefficient for SF₆ (k_th(SF₆) = (2.38 ±0.15 ) ×10 ^-7 cm³ s^-1). Thermal electron attachment rate coefficients for four other molecules are presented, namely for two derivatives of SF₆, SF₅CF₃ and SF₅Cl, and two perfluorocarbons, c-C₄F₈ and 2-C₄F₈.     

Elektronenlawinen in elektronegativen Gasen

It is possible to determine the coefficients of ionisation (α) and attachment (η) and the drift velocities of the positive and negative ions formed by these processes by analysing the current pulses of avalanches (started by c. 10³ electrons) under homogeneous field conditions with wide band oscillographic techniques. Measurements were made with some electronegative gases such as CO₂, Freon 12, SO₂, SF₆, and O₂. In CO₂ and Freon 12 negative ions are formed by dissociative attachment only, while in SO₂ additional negative ions are formed in a three body process. At higher pressures in Freon 12 clustering of negative ions becomes apparent, as the existence of two different mobilities was confirmed. For O₂ a detachment process of negative ions must be taken into account. The same seems to apply, to a lesser extent, to SF₆.     

Collision cross sections and swarm coefficients of water vapour ion clusters (H2O)nH+ with n = 1, 2 and 3 in N2, O2 and air

The ion swarm transport coefficients such as reduced mobility, diffusion coefficients and reaction rates of three water vapour ion clusters (H₂O) _n H⁺ (with n = 1, 2 and 3) in N₂ and O₂ have been determined from a Monte Carlo simulation using calculated and measured elastic and inelastic collision cross sections. The elastic momentum transfer cross sections have been determined from a semi-classical JWKB approximation based on a rigid core interaction potential model. The inelastic cross sections have been deduced from the measured ones in the case of similar ion cluster. Then, the cross sections sets are fitted using either the measured reduced mobility at low electric field in the case of (H₂O) _n H⁺ in N₂ or the zero-field mobility calculated from the Satoh's relation and the measured ones in N₂. From the sets of elastic and inelastic collision cross sections thus obtained in pure N₂ and O₂, the ion transport and reaction coefficients for (H₂O) _n H⁺ are then calculated in dry air and also extended over a wide range of reduced electric field in N₂ and O₂. These ion data are very useful for modelling and simulation of non-equilibrium electrical discharges more particularly in humid gases at atmospheric pressure.     

Molekularstrahlmessungen von Stoßquerschnitten für Übergänge zwischen definierten Rotationszuständen zwei-atomiger Moleküle

Previously reported experimental results for inelastic cross sections for rotational excitation of TlF molecules in low-lying, well defined rotational states are interpreted in terms of a time dependent perturbation theory formulation of the high energy approximation. In order to calculate inelastic cross sections for the observed small angle scattering the Born approximation and the classical deflection function are shown to be applicable. In this approximation the ΔJ selection rules are characteristic of the individual terms in the expansion of the potential, whereas the ΔM selection rules depend on the orientation of the molecule with respect to the scattering trajectory. An approximation for dealing with a scattering gas consisting of molecules is introduced and the appropriate orientation averaging is carried out for the case of a generalized electrostatic potential. The measured results for the transition TlF(2.0)→ (3.0) in collisions with the rare gases and CH₄ and SF₆ are more than a factor three larger than calculated results for the induced dipole-quadrupole (α, μ, Q) interaction. Rough argeement is found between calculated results for a dipole-quadrupole interaction and the experimental results for the above mentioned transition produced by the scattering gases O₂, N₂ (air), N₂O, and H₂O. Finally, the dipole-dipole potential appears to provide an explanation for the large inelastic cross sections observed with NH₃ and CF₂Cl₂. Calculated inelastic and total cross sections are however considerably larger (about a factor 2) than the measured results with NH₃. Possible explanations are discussed.     

Vacuum ultraviolet absorption in Xe+CF4 and Kr+CF4 mixtures

The absorption spectra of Xe + CF₄ and Kr + CF₄ mixtures in the vacuum ultraviolet region are presented. A considerable broadening of the short-wavelength wings of the atomic absorption lines is explained by a repulsive character of the Rg*-CF₄ interaction potential. This repulsive character is also considered to be the most probable reason for the anomalously small cross sections of the quenching of electronically excited atoms of rare gases by CF₄ molecules. The influence of CF₄ on the emission rate of the trapped resonance radiation of Xe from the cell is discussed.     

Surface morphology changes of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) fabrics induced by cold plasma treatments

Some selective cold plasma processing modify specific surface properties of textile polymeric materials such as their dyeability, wettability and hydrorepellence. To correlate the sample surface changes with the acquired surface properties allows one to obtain information on the chemical and physical processing involved in plasma treatment. In this work, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been applied to investigate the morphological and topographical surface modifications induced by RF cold plasma processing of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET) fabrics. Rms surface roughness and surface area of the samples are measured before and after the treatments. The morphology changes have been analysed as a function of the treatment time and air gas pressure. Measurements have been performed also using plasmas produced by different gases such as He, Ar, SF₆ and CF₄. The PET shows different behaviour with different gas plasmas. In the case of air, He and Ar gases the sample surface modifications seem to be mainly due to etching effects, while the fluorine atoms grafting probably is responsible for surface rearrangement process using SF₆ and CF₄ gases. As a consequence different surface properties are produced in the plasma treated samples. Article presented at the International Conference on the Frontiers of Plasma Physics and Technology, 9–14 December 2002, Bangalore, India.     

Desorption of chemisorbed Carbon on Mo(1 0 0) by noble gas ion sputtering: Validation of ground test measurements of ion engine lifetimes

We report desorption cross section measurements for one monolayer of chemisorbed carbon on a Mo(1 0 0) surface induced by sputtering with noble gas ions (Ne⁺, Ar⁺, Xe⁺) at different incident angles, ion energies, and substrate temperatures. Desorption cross sections were determined by using low-energy ion scattering (LEIS) to monitor the increase of the signal from the Mo substrate. A monolayer of p(1 × 1) carbon adatoms on the Mo(1 0 0) surface was created by dosing ethylene (C₂H₄) to the substrate at 800 K, and characterized by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). We find that the carbon desorption cross section increases with increasing mass and energy of the impinging ions, and there is a maximum value for the desorption cross section at an incident angle for the ions of 30° from the surface plane. The desorption cross section also increases up to a substrate temperature of 300 °C. Values for the carbon desorption cross section for carbon adatoms on Mo(1 0 0) by 400-eV Xe⁺ ion sputtering are about 2 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm², which is one order of magnitude higher than those for bulk carbon samples. This information is particularly important for evaluation of ion-engine lifetimes from ground-test measurements in which contaminant carbon is deposited on Mo accelerator grids, potentially altering the sputtering rate of the Mo. Our measurements show that monolayer amounts of carbon on Mo have desorption cross sections that are two orders of magnitude higher than estimates of what would be required to reduce the Mo erosion rate, and thus ground-test measurements can be used with confidence to predict ion-engine wear in space, from this perspective.     

Characterization and ion-induced degradation of cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate) studied using time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

In this study, a series of random copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were prepared as surface-initiated polymer (SIP) films on silicon substrates using atom transfer radical polymerization. Positive and negative ion static time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was used to characterize SIP films with different MMA/EGDMA monomer ratios in an attempt to quantify their surface composition. However, matrix effects in the positive and negative ion modes led to preferential secondary ion generation from the EGDMA monomer and suppression of secondary ions characteristic of the MMA monomer, precluding accurate quantification using standard linear quantification methods. Ion-induced degradation of these films under 5 keV SF₅⁺ bombardment was also examined to determine the effect of cross-linking on the accumulation of ion-induced damage. Increasing incorporation of the EGDMA cross-linker in the SIP films decreased the sputter rate and increased the rate of damage accumulation under extended (>10¹⁴ ions/cm²) 5 keV SF₅⁺ bombardment. Comparison of the ion bombardment data with thermal degradation of cross-linked PMMA suggests that the presence of the cross-linker impedes degradation by depolymerization, resulting in ion-induced damage accumulation. The increased rate of ion-induced damage accumulation with increased cross-link density also suggests that polymers that can form cross-links during ion bombardment are less amenable to depth profiling using polyatomic primary ions.     

高离化态类镍离子电子碰撞激发过程的相对论扭曲波理论研究

利用相对论扭曲波方法和新发展的研究电子碰撞激发过程的计算程序REIE06,系统计算了电子碰撞激发高离化态类镍Gd³⁶⁺和Rn⁵⁸⁺—U⁶⁴⁺(Z=86—92)离子从基态到4l(l=s,p,d,f)次壳层精细结构能级的碰撞强度和截面.研究了随等电子系列变化时,从基态到与X射线激光有关的3d⁹4p和3d⁹4d激发态能级的电子碰撞激发截面随Z的变化,讨论了强的组态相互作用对高离化态类镍离子截面的影响.通过对Gd³⁶⁺离子涉及X射线激光跃迁的相关能级电子碰撞激发速率系数的计算,分析了等离子体中电子温度对碰撞过程的影响.同时,目前部分计算结果与以往的理论结果进行了比较,得到了很好的一致性. 关键词： 电子碰撞激发 相对论扭曲波方法 高离化态类镍离子     

Optoacoustic cross-section measurements for ir pulses: CO2 laser absorption by CF3I

The pulsed optoacoustic method is studied to measure absolute infrared multiphoton absorption cross sections. The influence of the thermalisation by the walls of the cell is shown to be very important at low pressure. This influence is analysed both experimentally and theoretically by solving the coupled diffusion and relaxation equations for vibrational and translational energies. The sensitivity of the method is limited by a spurious pressure signal present even with non-absorbing gases. This parasitic signal is attributed to an absorption located on the inner surface of the windows of the cell. For instance, using KCl windows, the observed spurious signal corresponds to about 10⁻⁴ of the total laser energy, transmitted from the windows to the gas. This proportion is independent on the energy fluence. Taking care of these limitations, we have measured the absorption cross section of CF₃I at the different wavelengths of the (001–020) transitions of the CO₂ laser. The typical energy fluences in these experiments were varied from 10⁻³ to 1J/cm². To be in collision free conditions, the CF₃I pressure was made equal to 0.2 Torr.     

The viscosity and diffusion coefficients of eighteen binary gaseous systems

The paper reports accurate measurements of the viscosity of the eighteen binary gaseous systems: CF₄ with He, Ne, Ar, N₂, CO₂, CH₄; SF₆ with He, Ne, Ar, N₂, CO₂, CH₄, CF₄ and O₂ with He, Ne, CO₂, CF₄, SF₆. The measurements were performed in a high-precision oscillating-disk viscometer at atmospheric pressure and in the temperature range 25–200°C for the systems containing CH₄ or SF₆ and in the temperature range 25–400°C for the remainder. The reported viscosities are believed to be accurate to within ±0.1% at room temperature and to within ±0.2% at 400°C.It is shown that the data conform to the extended law of corresponding states developed by Kestin, Ro and Wakeham despite the complexity of some of the component gases. The standard deviation between the experimental values and those calculated from the law of corresponding states is only 0.3% which is commensurate with the uncertainty in the experimental results.Binary diffusion coefficients derived from the mixture viscosity data are also presented; they have an estimated uncertainty of ±2%.     

On the energy dependence of the yield of doubly charged negative ions during the capture of free electrons by C60(CF3)12 trifluoromethylfullerene molecules

Peaks of C₆₀(CF₃) _n ^2? doubly charged negative ions (n = 6–12) have been observed in the mass spectra of the resonance electron capture by trifluoromethylfullerene C₆₀(CF₃)₁₂ molecules. It has been established that these ions are formed owing to the attachment of two free isoenergetic electrons. The autodetachment of an extra electron has been detected for the doubly charged molecular ions (n = 12). It has been established from the observation of the delayed fragmentation of the most abundant ions with n = 8 and 10 that the doubly charged negative ions, like their singly charged analogs, are metastable with respect to the separation of the CF₃ fragment(s). The yield of doubly charged negative ions has been obtained as a function of the electron energy. By comparing them with the analogous dependences for the singly charged ions, the specific features have been revealed which were associated with the presence of the repulsive Coulomb barrier and the regular effect of the doubled energy of two additional electrons on the energy dependence of the dissociative decay of the doubly charged negative ions. The absolute cross section for the formation of the C₆₀(CF₃) ₁₀ ^2? ions has been measured. At the energy of their yield maximum near the 5 eV, it is ～1 × 10^?19 cm².     

Photon echo and stimulated photon echo study of various collisional-relaxation channels

Collisional relaxation in SF₆ gas and its mixtures with He and Xe is studied by photon echo and stimulated photon echo methods from the standpoint of the possibility of identifying the contributions of different types of collisions. The nonexponential nature of the kinetic curve of the photon echo is clearly observed for pure SF₆, it is weaker in the mixture SF₆+Xe, and it is virtually completely absent for high degrees of dilution of SF₆ with helium. These features can be explained on the basis of estimates, made from experimental data, of the critical delay between the exciting pulses (for which the nonexponential behavior should be most strongly manifested). In pure SF₆ it is possible to distinguish the contribution of the inelastic channel (rotational relaxation) and the contribution of weak collisions. To distinguish successfully the relaxation channels in mixtures with buffer gases a heavier buffer gas and a much better time resolution must be used. It is shown that data obtained on the orientation and alignment relaxation rates by the stimulated photon echo method can serve as an upper limit for the rates of inelastic processes which cannot be measured by the photon echo method. The combined use of photon echo and stimulated photon echo methods made it possible to obtain data on the cross sections for elastic and inelastic scattering of the collisional pairs SF₆–SF₆, SF₆–Xe, and SF₆–He. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 47–56 (July 1999)