Dissociative recombination exalts molecular growth in N₂/CH₄plasmas

Abstract

Abstract. We present a comparison of the outcomes of two models of N 2 /CH 4 VUV plasmas in two sets of conditions representative of a laboratory experiment and of Titan's ionosphere. The "FullDR" model incorporates all available experimental data on dissociative recombination od C x H y N + z ions thanks to the probabilistic tree technique recently developed in our group, whereas the "Hloss" model implements the H-loss pathways used by default in many models. We show that the FullDR model enhances globally the production of neutrals and ions, through the production of C 2 H x fragments. These species are efficient promoters of molecular growth, notably in the higher pressure conditions of the laboratory experiment.