Dissociation of the H2O molecule by collisions with metastable argon (3P2) was shown a few years ago to lead to the excitation of the first vibrational levels of A 2Σ+ excited state of OH. The present work consists of a detailed kinetic study of an e-beam excited Ar–H2O mixture to evaluate the potential interest of that reaction scheme for laser applications. In this study, we have mainly shown that OH* (A 2Σ+) is populated by an Ar++H2O pathway too and we give an estimate for the OH* (A 2Σ+) and OH (X 2Π) formation branching ratios. We have also estimated that Ar*2+H2O is a minor OH* pathway. These results and measurements of main reaction rates permitted us to give a kinetic model where the predicted time dependence of population are in good agreement with the experimental result. The feasibility of a radical laser based on the collisional dissociation scheme of molecules is discussed.
Several Asian developing countries recently reported a net increase in forest cover. In Thailand, such reports have been vehemently rejected by forest officials, researchers, politicians, and international organizations alike. According to the dominant interpretation, the apparent forest regrowth derives from a methodological artifact. While the determination of the true evolution of forest cover has important implications, this interpretation has never been subject to scrutiny. This article presents a broad range of data and analyses suggesting important flaws in this interpretation. Based notably on (1) a critical review of available forest statistics and the methodology used to produce these statistics, (2) case study material from northern Phetchabun Province, and (3) an analysis of recent sub-national remote-sensing surveys, we reject the dominant interpretation of official statistics and suggest that reforestation has increased in Thailand and plausibly became the overall trend in the late 1990s.
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