Relaxation Time and Activation Energy of Liquid Ammonia

Abstract

Using E_0⁄0 cavity resonator with axial capillary, measurements at 3 GHz of dielectric constant and loss factor of liquid ammonia have been made over the temperature range −40 to +20°C. There is consistancy in relaxation time variation from 1.6×10⁻¹³ sec at −30°C to 0.9×10⁻¹³ sec at +15°C, the spread parameter α is in the region 0.5–0.7. The activation energy for relaxation was found to be 4±2 kcal/mole, indicating the breakage of several NHN bonds in the relaxation process.