Objections to the N2++e- dissociative recombination coefficients inferred from analysis of atmosphere explorer measurements

IT is shown that Orsini, et al's inference, from an analysis of Atmosphere Explorer data, that N2+ ions in vibrationally excited states exhibit dissociative recombination coefficients in excess of 10-6 cm3/sec is incorrect. From the theory of the dissociative recombination process, an upper limit of approx.10-7 cm3/sec is obtained for recombination by N2+ ions in a particular vibration state at F-region electron temperatures. Available laboratory data on dissociative recombination of simple ions support this conclusion. As a possible alternative for the apparent rapid loss of vibrationally excited ions in the F-region it is suggested that the reaction N2++O→N+NO+ may exhibit the necessary increase in reaction rate with vibrational excitation in the ions