Rotational Excitation of Molecular Ions by Slow Electrons

Robert C. Stabler

doi:10.1103/PhysRev.131.679

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Rotational Excitation of Molecular Ions by Slow Electrons

Robert C. Stabler

Plasma and Space Applied Physics, RCA Defense Electronic Products, Princeton, New Jersey

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Phys. Rev. 131, 679 – Published 15 July, 1963

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.131.679

Abstract

The cross section for the excitation of rotation of a molecular ion by low-energy electrons has been calculated using first-order perturbation theory and approximate Coulomb wave functions. For ions with vanishing electric dipole moment, quadrupole moment $Q$ , and rotational quantum number $J$ , the cross section is found to be $2.0 \times 10^{- 15} {cm}^{2} (\frac{Q}{e {a_{0}}^{2}}) (1 eV / E_{i}) η (J)$ , where $E_{i}$ is the incident electron energy and $\frac{1}{4} < η (J) < \frac{2}{3}$ for all $J$ . The rate-of-energy loss to molecular ions arising from these inelastic collisions is found to be about 10% of the loss from elastic Coulomb collisions, independent of energy. This mechanism, thus, will result in a slight increase in the energy-transfer collision frequency under conditions where molecular ions are present.

References (16)

H. S. W. Massey, Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc. 28, 99 (1932)
S. Altshuler, Phys. Rev. 107, 114 (1957)
E. Gerjuoy and S. Stein, Phys. Rev. 97, 1671 (1955)
L. S. Frost and A. V. Phelps, Phys. Rev. 127, 1621 (1962)
J. L. Pack, R. E. Voshall, and A. V. Phelps, Phys. Rev. 127, 2084 (1962)
Omitted endnote
L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, Quantum Mechanics (Pergamon Press Ltd., London, 1958), pp. 422-3
[7], p. 127
Omitted endnote
G. N. Watson, Theory of Bessel Functions (Cambridge University Press, London, 1944), 2nd ed., p. 403
Omitted endnote
Omitted endnote
E. P. Wigner, Phys. Rev. 73, 1002 (1948)
L. Spitzer, Jr., Physics of Fully Ionized Gases (Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, 1956), pp. 72-3 [16]
N. F. Mott and H. S. W. Massey, The Theory of Atomic Collisions (Oxford University Press, London, 1933), 2nd ed., p. 135
A. A. Dougal and L. Goldstein, Phys. Rev. 109, 615 (1957)

[c1] H. S. W. Massey, Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc. 28, 99 (1932)

[c2] S. Altshuler, Phys. Rev. 107, 114 (1957)

[c3] E. Gerjuoy and S. Stein, Phys. Rev. 97, 1671 (1955)

[c4] L. S. Frost and A. V. Phelps, Phys. Rev. 127, 1621 (1962)

[c5] J. L. Pack, R. E. Voshall, and A. V. Phelps, Phys. Rev. 127, 2084 (1962)

[c6] Omitted endnote

[c7] L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, Quantum Mechanics (Pergamon Press Ltd., London, 1958), pp. 422-3

[c8] [7], p. 127

[c9] Omitted endnote

[c10] G. N. Watson, Theory of Bessel Functions (Cambridge University Press, London, 1944), 2nd ed., p. 403

[c11] Omitted endnote

[c12] Omitted endnote

[c13] E. P. Wigner, Phys. Rev. 73, 1002 (1948)

[c14] L. Spitzer, Jr., Physics of Fully Ionized Gases (Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, 1956), pp. 72-3 [16]

[c15] N. F. Mott and H. S. W. Massey, The Theory of Atomic Collisions (Oxford University Press, London, 1933), 2nd ed., p. 135

[c16] A. A. Dougal and L. Goldstein, Phys. Rev. 109, 615 (1957)

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Rotational Excitation of Molecular Ions by Slow Electrons

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