Mass independent isotopic fractionation: A key to plasma chemistry

We propose a numerical model allowing to calculate the relative variations of isotopic ratios involved in a mass-independent isotopic fractionation (MIF) effect. This model is derived from classical trajectory simulation performed to reproduce the reactions yielding the isotopomers of ozone. In the...

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Main Authors: François Robert, Peter Reinhardt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-06-01
Series:Chemical Physics Impact
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667022422000123
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author François Robert
Peter Reinhardt
author_facet François Robert
Peter Reinhardt
author_sort François Robert
collection DOAJ
description We propose a numerical model allowing to calculate the relative variations of isotopic ratios involved in a mass-independent isotopic fractionation (MIF) effect. This model is derived from classical trajectory simulation performed to reproduce the reactions yielding the isotopomers of ozone. In the ozone simulation, we did not introduce quantum mechanical selection rules for trajectories or the potential surface, but we separated instead exchange and non-exchange collisions, in order to introduce the fundamental quantum mechanical requirement according to which, for indistinguishable isotopes, the two possible reaction channels (elastic scattering or particle exchange) have to be superposed. The MIF effect is related to the molecular symmetry of the complex by the result that a different fraction of isotopically asymmetric complexes is stabilized than for symmetric ones.The model is applied on the results obtained experimentally for Mg and Ti isotopes in plasma. In plasma, Mg and Ti radicals resulting from the molecular dissociation of chlorides react with their parent molecules. In presence of hydrocarbons, isotope exchange rates are greatly enhanced when the intermediate activated complexes are adsorbed at the surface of the carbonaceous grains growing in the plasma. If a chemical reaction with the grain stabilizes the complex faster than its dissociation, MIF effects are observed. In such a chemical situation, the isotopic fractionation greatly exceed the usual theoretical predictions. Several characteristics of the MIF isotopic patterns are reproduced by the model.
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spelling doaj.art-1ca0a970b3e44783beef29aca51685d62022-12-22T00:35:00ZengElsevierChemical Physics Impact2667-02242022-06-014100073Mass independent isotopic fractionation: A key to plasma chemistryFrançois Robert0Peter Reinhardt1Corresponding author.; Institut Origine et Evolution (O & E), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle et Sorbonne Université, IMPMC-UMR 7590 CNRS, 57 rue Cuvier, Paris 75005, FranceLaboratoire de Chimie Théorique, Sorbonne Université et CNRS, UMR7616, 4 place Jussieu, Paris 75252 CEDEX 05, FranceWe propose a numerical model allowing to calculate the relative variations of isotopic ratios involved in a mass-independent isotopic fractionation (MIF) effect. This model is derived from classical trajectory simulation performed to reproduce the reactions yielding the isotopomers of ozone. In the ozone simulation, we did not introduce quantum mechanical selection rules for trajectories or the potential surface, but we separated instead exchange and non-exchange collisions, in order to introduce the fundamental quantum mechanical requirement according to which, for indistinguishable isotopes, the two possible reaction channels (elastic scattering or particle exchange) have to be superposed. The MIF effect is related to the molecular symmetry of the complex by the result that a different fraction of isotopically asymmetric complexes is stabilized than for symmetric ones.The model is applied on the results obtained experimentally for Mg and Ti isotopes in plasma. In plasma, Mg and Ti radicals resulting from the molecular dissociation of chlorides react with their parent molecules. In presence of hydrocarbons, isotope exchange rates are greatly enhanced when the intermediate activated complexes are adsorbed at the surface of the carbonaceous grains growing in the plasma. If a chemical reaction with the grain stabilizes the complex faster than its dissociation, MIF effects are observed. In such a chemical situation, the isotopic fractionation greatly exceed the usual theoretical predictions. Several characteristics of the MIF isotopic patterns are reproduced by the model.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667022422000123Mass independent isotope fractionationTheoretical modelPlasma experiments
spellingShingle François Robert
Peter Reinhardt
Mass independent isotopic fractionation: A key to plasma chemistry
Chemical Physics Impact
Mass independent isotope fractionation
Theoretical model
Plasma experiments
title Mass independent isotopic fractionation: A key to plasma chemistry
title_full Mass independent isotopic fractionation: A key to plasma chemistry
title_fullStr Mass independent isotopic fractionation: A key to plasma chemistry
title_full_unstemmed Mass independent isotopic fractionation: A key to plasma chemistry
title_short Mass independent isotopic fractionation: A key to plasma chemistry
title_sort mass independent isotopic fractionation a key to plasma chemistry
topic Mass independent isotope fractionation
Theoretical model
Plasma experiments
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667022422000123
work_keys_str_mv AT francoisrobert massindependentisotopicfractionationakeytoplasmachemistry
AT peterreinhardt massindependentisotopicfractionationakeytoplasmachemistry