Electron-impact ionization of NO, NO₂, and N₂O

We measured absolute cross-sections for the electron-impact ionization and dissociative ionization of the three nitrogen-oxygen compounds NO, NO₂, and N₂O from threshold to 200eV using the fast-neutral-beam technique. In spite of the importance of these molecules in combustion, low-temperature plasmas, pollution control, and planetary atmospheres, the database of absolute total and partial electron-impact ionization cross-sections for these species is not very comprehensive and existing data reveal some discrepancies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that absolute partial ionization cross-sections for all three species have been measured by the same group using the same experimental technique and apparatus. Comparisons with other available measured and calculated ionization cross-section data are made.