Electron-ion Recombination at Sub-zero Temperature

Abstract

In this paper we have considered two-step radiative recombination channel over the existing spontaneous radiative recombination channel to explain the causes of experimentally obtained enhanced recombination rate at sub-zero temperature. The existing recombination rate due to spontaneous radiative recombination is 4 times smaller than the recent experimental data. In the case of Ne10+ we obtain good agreement between theory and experiment when contribution from two-step radiative recombination channel is added to the spontaneous radiative recombination channel. Recombination rate for Ar es + is calculated. The radiation spectrum given out by two-step radiative recombination and spontaneous radiative recombination in the recombination rate processes are discrete spectrum and continuous spectrum, respectively. Experimental identification of these two channels through the spectral signatures is suggested.