Binary Recombination of H3+and D3+Ions with Electrons in Plasma at 50–230 K

The results of an experimental study of the H3+and D3+ions recombination with electrons in afterglow plasmas in the temperature range 50–230 K are presented. A flowing afterglow apparatus equipped with a Langmuir probe was used to measure the evolution of the electron number density in the decaying plasma. The obtained values of the binary recombination rate coefficient are αbinH3+= (6.0 ± 1.8) × 10–8(300/T)0.36±0.09cm3s–1for H3+ions in the temperature range 80–300 K and αbinD3+= (3.5 ± 1.1) × 10–8(300/T)0.73±0.09cm3s–1for D3+ions in the temperature range 50–300 K. This is the first measurement of the binary recombination rate coefficient of H3+and D3+ions in a plasma experiment down to 50 K.