Interpretation of Collisional Ionization Rates in Flames

Abstract

where A is an atom and M* and M*' are differently excited states of a molecule. This process is particularly relevant to the discussion of the collisional ionization rates in flame systems, and estimates of the cross-sections for such processes together with a correct treatment of the number of states involved can readily account for the anomalously high cross-sections for such processes previously inferred from ionization rate constants. The discussion raises other related problems which suggest that a complete understanding of the process will not be readily obtained until more complex experiments correlating flame composition, ionization rates, electron densities and temperature variations are performed.