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Equilibrium Hydrogen Reactions

        For the range of pressures and temperatures

expected in the plasma core reactor, the hydrogen coolant may undergo any of the following equilibrium reactions:


1. Molecular dissociation

2. Atomic ionization

3. Atomic electron attachment

4. Molecular ionization

5. Dissociative recombination

6. Dissociation of molecular ions

7., 8., 9. Two-body combination





10., 11. Three-body
            recombination


H2 Z H + H H ; H+ + e H + e 2 H +    +
2 +e2 + e

+ H
2 4 -I' H + H


H +  H + H2+ +    H

    + 4   4+   H
H + H +  H    2

H  + H+  H +
   2       3

H2 + H2 + H + + H H + H + H + H2 + H2 H + H + H  H2 + H


From an examination of the reaction energies, absorption properties, and expected coolant temperatures, the hydrogen coolant is considered to be adequately described by the first four reactions. Reaction 9 can indirectly enhance the absorption properties of hydrogen at higher pressures

(47), but will not be included in the present analysis.