Langmuir-probe measurements in a hydrogen-containing plasma jet show anomalous fast recombination that cannot be attributed to atomic processes such as radiative or three-particle recombination. In this paper a molecular mechanism, based on the charge transfer between the atomic hydrogen ions and the rovibrationally excited hydrogen molecules (${\mathrm{H}}_2^{\nu ,}$J+${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$→${\mathrm{H}}_2^{+}$+H), is presented that explains the observed fast recombination.

• Received 19 January 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.48.2098