Mechanism of thermal energy charge transfer reactions: + N2. Analysis of isotopic data

The

+ N₂ charge transfer reaction has been studied in an ICR spectrometer using both ¹⁴N₂ and ¹⁵N₂. The N⁺/N₂⁺ branching ratio was measured from the zero collision limit (ca. 1 × 10^?5 torr total pressure) to collisional saturation (ca. 1 × 10^?3 torr total pressure) for He/N₂ ratios of 5, 10, 50 and 100. The data were analyzed by solving exactly the kinetic equations and the associated power absorption equations. A positive pressure dependence in the N⁺/N₂⁺ branching ratio was observed indicating some N⁺ is formed from collisional dissociation of excited

ions. Comparison is made with recently published data from other groups and previously published data from this laboratory.