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±0.09 cm3 s–1 for H3+ ions in the temperature range 80–300 K and αbinD3+ = (3.5 ± 1.1) × 10–8(300/T)0.73±0.09 cm3 s–1 for 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.