State-Selected and State-to-State Cross Sections for Ion-Molecule Reactions of Importance in Planetary Ionosphere

要详细了解上层大气中能量的沉积和转移，就需要详细了解大气中各种离子、原子和分子之间的基本相互作用。这些性质的实验室测量是复杂的，因为涉及许多状态。该奖项为实验室测量提供了持续的支持，旨在确定涉及空气重要离子O+和N2分子的选定状态之间相互作用的重要横截面。也可以研究涉及其他大气物种的通常不太重要的类似反应。尤其重要的是，在低电子能量下获得对地球大气动力学最重要的结果的前景。PI在开发用于这项研究的专用设备方面取得了重要进展，预计这项工作的结果将对了解类地行星大气的许多基本问题具有重要意义。

The detailed understanding of the deposition and transfer of energy in the upper atmosphere requires a detailed understanding of the basic interactions between the various ions, atoms, and molecules in the atmosphere. Laboratory measurement of these properties is complicated because of the many states involved. This award provides continuing support for laboratory measurements aimed at determining important cross sections for interactions between selected states involving the aeronomically important ion O+ and the N2 molecule. Similar reactions of generally lesser importance involving other atmosphere species can also be studies. Especially important is the prospect of obtaining results at the low electron energies of most importance for aeronomy of the earth's atmosphere. The PI has made important progress in developing specialized equipment for this research, and it is expected that the results of this work will be important for many fundamental problems in the understanding of the atmospheres of the terrestrial planets.