INTERSTELLAR CHEMISTRY OF ATOMIC NITROGEN: LOW TEMPERATURE KINETICS OF THE N plus OH, N plus CN AND N plus NO REACTIONS

More than 100 reactions between stable molecules and free radicals have been shown to remain rapid at low temperatures. In contrast, reactions between two unstable radicals have received much less attention due to the added complexity of producing and measuring excess radical concentrations. We performed kinetic experiments on the barrierless N + OH and N + CN reactions in a supersonic flow (Laval nozzle) reactor. The results provide insight into the gas-phase formation mechanisms of molecular nitrogen in interstellar clouds (ISCs).