The spur model in nonpolar solvents

In spite of the wealth of data accumulated in the past decades, Ps formation in nonpolar solvents is less understood than in polar solvents. A reason for this is that data from pulse radiolysis that could be used for comparison are less numerous than for polar solvents. Globally, the spur processes described above are also present the main differences between the polar and nonpolar solvents arise from the absence of solvation in the latter case. 

Due to the lesser mobility of the solvated e s and e+s, as compared to that of the quasi-free particles, solvation sets a time limit to Ps formation in polar solvents. The absence of solvation in nonpolar solvents therefore usually results in a much higher Ps yield. Furthermore, the Onsager radius, the distance at which the attractive potential between charged particles (here, e+ 

As in polar solvents, correlations are found between the ability of solutes to inhibit Ps formation and their reaction rate constants with the electrons. However, with a few exceptions (e.g. CC14), the variation of I3 with C does not follow a simple equation as eq.(l). In many cases, the following empirical equation has been used [29]  

The absence of a time limit for Ps formation in nonpolar solvents (no solvation) leads to some difficulties when modeling this process. Having still some Ps being formed on the time scale of the PALS spectra would probably be detected upon analysis (bad variance) as the fitting programs are based on purely decaying exponentials. Therefore, most of Ps formation must have come to an end at short time (about 10 ps at most). 

Three levels of quantification of the spur processes are possible, from the 

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