Investigation of electron recombination in the wake behind a body of aluminum/magnesium alloy flying in the air at a hypersonic speed

Based on the results of analysis of the experimental data obtained in the wake behind a body of aluminum/magnesium, it is found that the drop in the electron concentration along the wake axis is defined by a complex system of reactions involving excited states of atoms, by double and triple recombination of electrons, and by the ionic charge exchange. The main system of reactions is formulated. It is demonstrated that the predominant process defining the electron concentration distribution is the dissociative recombination $\mathrm{O}_2^++e \overset{k_r}\longrightarrow\mathrm{O}+\mathrm{O}$. Two methods are employed to find, from the solution of inverse problem, the value of the rate constant of this reaction, which is in adequate agreement with the data of other authors.