Ionization, attachment and detachment in air and air-CO2 mixtures

Abstract

Ionization coefficients have been obtained in dry air over the E/N range 90-260 Td. No evidence for attachment was observed in dry air. Small additions of CO2 produced significant attachment in the air-CO2 mixtures. This phenomenon is interpreted in terms of a fast detachment reaction occurring in pure air that is inhibited by the addition of CO2. Evidence is given that suggests that an excited state of molecular nitrogen is responsible for the absence of detectable electron attachment in air.