Effect of the Kinetics of Contaminants on Wake Ionization

Abstract

Experimental values for recombination rates between electrons and cesium ions are presented in this report. Measurements cover temperature& from 4300° K to l<i00 o K at electron densities from 1. 5 (10 14) to 2 (10i2j cc' 1. The cesium plasma is generated by a high-velocity steel spherical projectile fired into a special chemical kinetics ballistic range. Microwave F-band and Ka-band focused probe measurements of electron density were made as a function of time at two wave locations. Measured and calculated electron density decays are shown to agree satisfactorily. The experimental recombination rates are compared to tl eoretical values from Bates, King8ton,and McWhirter; agreement is reasonable. The experimental apparatus and techniques are described in detail in the report.