An ionospheric simulation experiment has been performed in a large vacuum chamber. The chamber is filled with NO and other gases including N
2, O
2, CO
2, NH
3 and H
2O in the pressure range of 10
-2 Torr. A lamp which produces photons at 1236 and 1165A by means of microwave discharge in krypton is utilized as an ionization source.
In addition to 30
+ large quantities of the water cluster ions 55
+, H
3O
+·(H
2O)
2, 73
+, H
3O
+·(H
2O)
3 and 91
+, H
3O
+·(H
2O)
4 were observed when nitric oxide and water were present. This closely approximates the condition of the terrestrial
D region. After long periods of UV irradiation 74
+ and 104
+ ions grow in intensity. These ions are tentatively identified as NO
+. N
2O and NO
+·NO·N
2O. In addition the series 18
+, 36
+, 54
+ and 72
+ is detected which can be labeled NH
4+, NH
4+·(H
2O), NH
4+·(H
2O)
2 and NH
4+·(H
2O)
3. These same species of ions are observed with the introduction of ammonia into the chamber. Presumably both N
2O and NH
3 are products of the photolysis.
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