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Co2+ Dissociative Recombination: A Source Of Thermal And Nonthermal C On Mars, Jane L. Fox

Physics Faculty Publications

CO₂ ⁺ dissociative recombination has been assumed in the past to proceed overwhelmingly by the channel that produces CO + O. Although the channel that leads to the products C + O₂ is energetically possible, the significant rearrangement of bonds that is required has led to the belief that this channel contributes minimally. Seiersen et al. [2003] have recently measured the branching ratio for the latter channel, and they have reported a value of ∼9% of the total. We have constructed both low and high solar activity models of the Martian thermosphere, and we have tested the effect …