Recombination of positive ions and electrons in a dense neutral gas

Abstract

A theory is presented of the recombination of electrons and positive ions in the presence of neutral atoms which act as third bodies, explicit account being taken of the effect of radiative transitions. Comparison is made with the theories of Thomson and of Pitaevsku. Detailed calculations are carried out on recombination in helium gas. It is found that the rate coefficient α is very great when the temperature theta is low and the number density N(He) is high: for example, that α for He+ is 5 × 10-8 cm3 sec-1 and for Na+ is 2 × 10-8 cm3 sec-1 when θ is 250 °K and N(He) is 3 × 1019 cm-3.