The rotational excitation and population distribution of OH(A2Σ+) produced by electron impact on water

The rotational excitation and population distributions in OH(A²Σ⁺, υ′ = 0) have been determined by analyzing the OH(A²Σ⁺ → X²Π_i) emission spectrum. The spectrum results from the impact of mon-energetic electrons (0–100 eV) on water vapour. It is shown that these rotational distributions of the OH(A²Σ⁺) state depend on the electron impact energy and have contributions from singlet and triplet states of water. The contribution from each dissociative state of water can be described by a Boltzmann distribution, both in the case of rotational excitation and population.Three distribution parameters (“temperatures”) for rotational excitation are obtained, namely 13800 K and 2900 K for the singlet contributions and 4000 K for the triplet contribution. The corresponding distribution parameters for the rotational population are 30000, 3300, and 4800 K, respectively. The results are discussed in view of recent theoretical calculations on water energy levels.     

Study of a new direct current atmospheric pressure glow discharge in helium

In this study a new DC-APGD operated in He was developed and characterized. The discharge is operated at 0.9 kV and about 25-35 mA and at a gas flow of 100 ml/min. The source was spectroscopically studied and parameters such as the rotational temperature (T_rot), the excitation temperature (T_exc), the ionization temperature (T_ion) and the electron number density (n_e) were determined. The current-voltage characteristic of the source was studied as well. At optimized conditions the discharge operates in the normal region of the current-voltage characteristic. Rotational and excitation temperatures determined with the use of OH band and Fe I lines as thermometric species were of the order of about 900-1200 and 4500-5500 K, respectively. This indicates that despite of the atmospheric pressure, the discharge is not in LTE. Spatially resolved temperature measurements were performed with axial as well as radial resolution and showed relatively flat profiles. Axially resolved emission intensity profiles for several species such as H, N₂, N₂⁺, OH, He and Hg were determined. It also was found that H₂ introduced into the He by electrolysis of acid solutions such as in ECHG considerably increases the spectroscopically measured gas temperatures but decreases the analyte line intensities, as shown for Hg.     

Understanding the flowing atmospheric-pressure afterglow (FAPA) ambient ionization source through optical means

The advent of ambient desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (ADI-MS) has led to the development of a large number of atmospheric-pressure ionization sources. The largest group of such sources is based on electrical discharges; yet, the desorption and ionization processes that they employ remain largely uncharacterized. Here, the atmospheric-pressure glow discharge (APGD) and afterglow of a helium flowing atmospheric-pressure afterglow (FAPA) ionization source were examined by optical emission spectroscopy. Spatial emission profiles of species created in the APGD and afterglow were recorded under a variety of operating conditions, including discharge current, electrode polarity, and plasma-gas flow rate. From these studies, it was found that an appreciable amount of atmospheric H₂O vapor, N₂, and O₂ diffuses through the hole in the plate electrode into the discharge to become a major source of reagent ions in ADI-MS analyses. Spatially resolved plasma parameters, such as OH rotational temperature (T_rot) and electron number density (n_e), were also measured in the APGD. Maximum values for T_rot and n_e were found to be ~1100 K and ~4 × 10¹⁹ m^–3, respectively, and were both located at the pin cathode. In the afterglow, rotational temperatures from OH and N₂⁺ yielded drastically different values, with OH temperatures matching those obtained from infrared thermography measurements. The higher N₂⁺ temperature is believed to be caused by charge-transfer ionization of N₂ by He₂⁺. These findings are discussed in the context of previously reported ADI-MS analyses with the FAPA source.     

Analysis of anomalous vibrational and rotational distributions in the CN(B2Σ+) state produced in the reaction of Ar(3P0,2) metastables with BrCN

The CN(B²Σ⁺ - X²Σ⁺) tail band emission system for μ′ = 11–20 resulting from the energy transfer reaction Ar(³P_0,2) + BrCN in a flowing afterglow apparatus was measured. The vibrational and rotational distributions were determined as a function of argon pressure. Numerous perturbed rotational lines were observed; analysis of the dependences of these lines on argon pressure, with the aid of experimental information already published, led to the following assignments as to the origins of the perturbations: For μ′ = 11, N′ = 20 and μ′ = 13, N′ = 9, the perturbing state is a ⁴Σ⁺; for μ′ = 12, N′ = 10 and 14, μ′ = 14, N′ = 7 and 10, and μ′ = 17, N′ ≈ 17–19 the perturbing state is A ²Π_i. The perturbed rotational line, μ′ = 11, N′ = 20, is found to be the primary source of intensity in the μ′ =11 vibrational band, but in all other cases the perturbed rotational lines do not significantly aid in the populating of the vibrational state. The anomalously high vibrational populations found in the tail band emission system (μ′ = 12, 14, 17 and 18), as well as the significantly high rotational excitations observed in the μ′ = 12–20 vibrational bands, apparently arise directly from the reaction intermediate.     

De-excitation rate constants of He(2 3S) by atoms and molecules as studied by the pulse radiolysis method

Time-resolved measurement of He (2 ³S) concentration by its optical absorption after electron pulse irradiation of HeN₂ mixtures confirms that the optical emission of N⁺₂(B ²Σ⁺_u → X ²Σ⁺_g) is based on the energy transfer (Penning ionization) from He (2 ³S) to N₂. The addition of other atoms and molecules to HeN₂ mixtures changes the decay rate of the optical emission N⁺₂(B ²Σ⁺_u → X ²Σ⁺_g), which is a detector of He (2 ³S), and gives the rate constant of He (2 ³S) de-excitation by various atoms and molecules. Our results are discussed from the viewpoint of a gas-kinetic collision model.     

Sensitization of the OH(A 2Σ+ → X 2Πi) emission by Hg(6 3P0) metastables

The electronic energy transfer process Hg(6 ³P₀) + OH(X²Π_i, υ = 0,K) → Hg(6 ¹S₀) + OH(A ²Σ⁺, υ,K) has been studied by the sensitized fluorescence method. A rather broad spectrum of rotational population, N_υ′K′, was obtained under conditions of minimum relaxation, which illustrates the non-resonant and non-optical nature of this energy transfer process. The fractions of the exoergicity, above electronic excitation of OH(A ²Σ⁺, υ = 0, K = 0), going into vibrational, rotational and translational excitation are 0.11, 0.31, and 0.58, respectively. A statistical mode of energy partitioning, such as would result from long-lived complex formation, seems to account well for these observations.     

Atmospheric pressure,radio frequency,parallel plate capacitively coupled plasma—excitation temperatures and analytical figures of merit

Electronic excitation (T_exc) and rotational (T_rot) temperatures were determined for a parallel plate capacitively coupled rf plasma operating at atmospheric pressure. T_exc was calculated from the slope of the Boltzmann plot using Fe and He as the thermometric species and Pb excitation temperature was calculated using the two line method. Over a power range from 100 W to 250 W, excitation temperatures are 3255–3900 K for He, 3540–4500 K for Pb, and 4300–4890 K for Fe. The rotational temperature was measured using both OH and N₂⁺ molecular spectra and the values are in the range of 828–911 K and 845–956 K respectively over a power range of 75–275 W. Signal-to-noise ratios, signal-to-background ratios, and absolute detection limit for lead (0.33 ng) and silver (24 pg) are also reported.     

Dissociative excitation of water by metastable argon

The reaction Ar(²P_2,0) + H₂O → Ar + H + OH(A²Σ⁺)was studied in crossed molecular beams by observing the luminescence from OH(A²Σ⁺). No significant dependence of the spectrum on collision energy was found over the 22–52 meV region. Spectral simulation was used to obtain the OH(A) vibrational distribution and rotational temperature, assuming a Boltzmann rotational distribution. Since predissociation is known to strongly affect the rovibrational distribution, the individual rotational state lifetimes were included in the simulation program and were used to obtain the average vibrational state lifetimes. Excellent agreement with experiment was obtained for vibrational population ratios N₀/N₁/N₂ of 1.00/ 0.40/0.013 and a rotational temperature of 4000 K. Correction for the different average vibrational lifetimes gave formation rate ratios P₀/P₁/P₂ of 1.00/0.49/0.25. The differences between these results and those from flowing afterglow studies on the same system are discussed. Three reaction mechanisms are considered, and the vibrational prior distributions are calculated from a simple density-of-states model. Only fair agreement with experiment is obtained. The best agreement for the mechanisms giving OH(A) in two 2-body dissociation steps is obtained by assuming 1.0 eV of internal energy remains in the second step. The OH(A) vibrational population distribution of the present work is similar to that found in the photolysis of H₂O at 122 nm, where there is 1.10 eV of excess internal energy.     

Energy-transfer reactions between He(2 3S) and Ne(3P0.2) metastable atoms and PN radicals

Energy-transfer reactions between He(2 ³S) and Ne(³P_0.2) metastable atoms and PN radicals have been investigated by emission spectroscopy. Thirteen new PN⁺ (B ¹Σ⁺ ?X ²Σ⁺) emission bands were found in addition to eight previously identified bands in the range 305–395 nm. From these observed band-head wavelengths, the following molecular constants were obtained for the X and B states of PN⁺ : PN⁺ (X): ω_c = 1306 ± 3 cm^?1, ω_cx_c = 7.9 ± 0.7 cm^?1, PN^? (B): T_c = 31354 ± 6 cm^?1, ω_c = 719 ± 3 cm^?1, ω_cx_c = 1.6 ± 0.7 cm^?1. The PN⁺ (B) state vibrational population was estimated from the emission intensities and the calculated Morse Franck—Condon (FC) factors for the PN⁺ (B–X) transition. Both the results obtained by He(2 ³S) and Ne(³P_0.2) Penning ionization shifted to lower vibrational levels in comparison with the calculated FC factors for vertical PN(X) → PN⁺ (B) ionization. Besides PN⁺ (B–X) emission, unidentified bands were observed in the 231–236 nm region in the helium afterglow, probably originating from PN or PN^?.     

Emission spectra produced from thermal energy charge transfer reactions of Ar+ ions with CS and PN radicals

CS⁺(B²Σ⁺-A²Π_i) and PN⁺(B²Σ⁺-X²Σ⁺) emissions were observed for υ′ = 0 and 1 from argon afterglow reactions of CS and PN radicals. The rotational constant (B₀) of the CS⁺(B) state was estimated to be 0.696±0.002 cm^?1 from the difference between band head and band origin. The dependence of each emission intensity on the voltage applied to the ion-collector grids and on the argon pressure indicated that Ar⁺ was a plausible candidate. Vibrational populations of the CS⁺(B) and PN⁺(B) states obtained from the emission spectra shifted to lower vibrational levels in comparison with those expected from the energy resonance and Franck-Condon factors for ionization. This is explainable as the distortion of target radicals by approach of reactant ions.     

CAS SCF/CI calculations of potential energy surfaces of He3+ and He2+

Complete active space MC SCF (CAS SCF) calculations followed by second-order configuration interaction (SOCI) calculations are carried out on the potential energy surfaces (bending surface, linear surfaces) of the ²Σ_g⁺ ground state of He₃⁺. The potential minimum for the ²Σ_g⁺ state occurs at a linear geometry with HeHe bond length of 1.248 Å. The binding energy of He₃⁺ with respect to He + He⁺ + He was calculated to be 2.47 eV at the SOCI level. The energy required to dissociate He₃⁺ (²Σ_g⁺) into He₂⁺ (²Σ_u⁺) and He(¹S) is calculated to be 0.14 eV. The same level of SOCI calculations of He₂⁺ yield a D_e value of 2.36 eV.     

Detection of nitrogen rotational distributions by resonant 2 + 2 multiphoton ionization through the a1Πg state

Characterization of laser 2 + 2 multiphoton ionization of nitrogen to obtain rotational state distributions has been investigated via the resonant two-photon transition a ¹Π_g(ν = 1) ← X ¹Σ_g(ν = 0). For room-temperature nitrogen, the spectral intensities and state distribution are directly related and give rotational temperatures of 290 ± 20 K. For power densities of 3 GW/cm², the ionization probability is 1 × 10⁻⁵ per N₂ molecule per average rotational state.     

Improved study of the ionization of hydrogen atoms in thermal energy collisions with metastable He(23 S) atoms

The first electron spectrometric study of the ionizing reaction of metastable He(2³ S ₁) atoms with ground state hydrogen atoms has been carried out with sufficiently high resolution to partially resolve the rotational structure due to formation of rovibrationally excited HeH⁺ (v, J) ions at two different beam source temperatures (300 K and 90 K). The electron energy spectrum has been reproduced in model quantum calculations, using a new large scale ab initio calculation of the He(2³ S)+H(1² S)²Σ-potential. The imaginary part has been adjusted to yield a satisfactory fit to the measured spectrum. The collision energy dependence of the associative ionization electron spectra and of the total and partial ionization cross sections is discussed in some detail. No significant signs for limitations of the used local complex potential method, indicated by results of an earlier study of the He(2³ S)+H(1² S) system, have been found in the present work, in which the calculations were carried out with an improved and corrected program.     

First observation of the M 2Σ+ → E2Σ+ (0—0) transition in NO

The emission spectrum of NO excited by electric discharge has been recorded with a high-resolution Fourier transform interferometer. Strong perturbations are observed in the spectrum of the transition M²Σ⁺→ E²Σ⁺ (0—0), due to mixing of the Rydberg state M²Σ⁺(v = 0) with valence states B²Π(v = 22, 23) and L²Π(v = 3). Accurate energies for the M²Σ⁺ rotational levels are given.     

Fluorescence spectra of laser-excited YO molecules in a H2O2Ar flame

CW dye laser induced fluorescence emission and thermal emission spectra of YO-molecules in a 1 atm H₂O₂Ar flame of 2430 K were recorded simultaneously. Narrow band laser excitation was applied to four rotational lines in the (1, 1) Q-branch of the A²Π_{$\text{3}\text{2}$}→X²Σ⁺ transition and broadband excitation was applied to several separate Q-branches of the A²Π_{$\text{1}\text{2}$,$\text{3}\text{2}$}→X²Σ⁺ transitions. From the differences between the fluorescence emission spectra and thermal emission spectra, we conclude that collisional de-excitation of an excited vibronic level takes place by vibrational relaxation, decay to the electronic ground state and by intermultiplet transfer in order of increasing probability.     

Vibrational branching ratios for the A3Πi → X3Σ− system of OH+ and OD+

Near-thermal charge exchange between He⁺ and H₂(D₂O) is used as a source of OH⁺(OD⁺) A³H_i→ X³Σ^? emission. A comparison between experimental emission branching ratios and those calculated in the r-centroid approximation suggests that the electronic transition moment varies as a function of the r-centroid.     

The kinetic and internal energies of OH(A2Σ+) produced by electron stimulated desorption from TiO2, NaCl and SrF2 surfaces

The kinetic and internal energies of OH(A ²Σ⁺) radicals produced by electron-stimulated desorption from H₂O-exposed TiO₂, NaCl and SrF₂ surfaces are reported. The kinetic energies were determined by measuring the spatial extent of the fluorescence above each substrate surface, while the vibrational and rotational energies were determined by analyzing the intensity distribution of the rovibrational spectra. We find that OH* from NaCl and SrF₂ has low kinetic energy, 80 and 150 meV, respectively, and low rotational excitation, T_rot ≈ 340–450 K. OH* from TiO₂ is more energetic, E_kin = 250 meV and T_rot ≈ 1000 K. The OH* vibrational excitation is high. T_vib ≈ 2000 K, and independent of the nature of the substrate.     

Emission spectroscopic studies of Grimm-type glow discharge plasma with argon-helium gas mixtures

The effect of argon/helium pressure ratios on the emission intensity of various Ar II lines is investigated for a Grimm-type glow discharge radiation source, operated with Ar-He mixtures. The relative intensities of the Ar II lines are altered significantly by mixing helium with argon. It is found that the population of the Ar⁺ excited states can be redistributed through He-Ar collisional energy transfer. The energy level of the He singlet metastable state (¹S₀,20.62 eV) is very important for these processes. If the excitation energy of Ar II lines is higher than that of the He singlet metastable, strong quenching of the Ar II line intensity is observed. However, when the excitation energy is slightly lower, some of the Ar II lines are enhanced by adding helium to the argon plasma. Energy exchanges between the Ar⁺ doublet term states and the He singlet metastable are favoured because the total spin remains unchanged before and after the He-Ar collisions. Furthermore, the helium mixing also exerts a great influence on the emission intensities of the elements sputtered from the cathode of the discharge lamp. The enhancement of Al I and Al II emission intensities at suitable Ar-He mixture ratios is discussed for when aluminum is employed as a cathode material.     

Energy transfer processes in reactions of He(23S) with triatomic molecules. II. H2O and H2S

The energy transfer reactions He(2³S) + H₂O and He(2³S) + H₂S were studied spectroscopically in the visible and ultraviolet ranges in a flowing afterglow apparatus. No primary triatomic ion emission was observed in this study. Only dissociative fragments were found to emit. In the He(2³S)/H₂O system intense OH(A²Σ⁺ → X²Π_i) emission bands and hydrogen Balmer series were observed while in the He(2³S)/H₂S system intense HS⁺(A³Π_i → X³ Σ^?), weak hydrogen Balmer series and some atomic sulfur lines were found. It is concluded that dissociative processes are competitive with Penning ionization in these energy transfer reactions with other possible reaction channels playing inferior roles. The post-ionization process of ion—electron recombination in the flowing afterglow dominates the emission results in the He(2³S)/H₂O system.     

Comparison of temperature measurements in ICP and MIP with Ar and He as plasma gas

Various temperature measurements have been carried out in microwave induced plasmas (MIP) generated with a surfatron and inductivcly coupled plasmas (ICP) both with argon and helium as plasma gas. Iron has been used for the determination of excitation temperature, and OH and N⁺₂ for rotational temperatures. In the case of the Ar ICP, equilibrium is attained between the various temperatures (4500 K), as previously described. On the other hand, in the He ICP and the MIPs, iron provides the highest temperature (4500 K) but discrepancies are obtained with results from N⁺₂ and OH. These two species show lower values, especially OH (2000 K).