Production of negative ions of hydrogen
US4407705A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1981 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC01B3/00
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for generating negative ions of hydrogen isotopes is described which comprises cooling the hydrogen gas below 300.degree. K., and preferably to about 200.degree. K., vibrationally exciting the molecules of the gas, and the dissociating the molecules by electron impact into neutral hydrogen atoms and negative hydrogen ions. Alternatively, the gas may first be vibrationally excited by heating or the like, and then cooled translationally, for example, by rapid expansion prior to dissociation by electron impact. The processes of this invention are characterized by control of non-equilibrium conditions to obtain large increases in dissociative attachment rates by increasing the population of hydrogen gas molecules having a higher vibrational energy state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.