Recombination

This definition page has been automatically generated. You can help ExoDictionary by expanding, updating, or correcting it.

This autostub has not yet had its initial copyediting proof and may contain significant formatting and even factual errors. You can improve Exodictionary by cleaning up the page markup and verifying that the definition is correct and then removing this tag.

This autostub has not yet had its initial categorization proof and may be categorized incorrectly. You can improve Exodictionary by removing inappropriate categories and then removing this tag.

Recombination

</dt>
The process by which a positive and a negative ion join to form a neutral molecule or other neutral particle, also process by which radicals or dissociations species join to form molecules. </dd>
Recombination is applied both to the simple case of capture of free electrons by positive atomic or molecular ions, and also to the more complex case of neutralization of a positive small ion by a negative small ion or a similar (but much more rare) neutralization of large ions. Recombination is, in general, a process accompanied by emission of radiation. The light emitted from the channel of a lightning stroke is recombination radiation as is airglow. The much less concentrated recombinations steadily occurring in all parts of the atmosphere where ions are forming and disappearing does not yield observable radiation. The rate at which electrons, small ions, and large ions recombine is a function of their respective mobilities and of their concentration. The former dependence is expressed in terms of the recombination coefficient of the particular ion type. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use