Dissociation of the hydrogen molecule by electron impact

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Physical Review, A (General Physics)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.12.1340· OSTI ID:4198322

Chung, Sunggi; Lin, Chun C.; Lee, Edward T. P.

The electron-impact dissociation cross sections of the H₂ molecule have been calculated for the processes leading to H(1s)+H(1s) and to H(1s)+H(2s) by means of the Born-Rudge and Born-Ochkur methods. In addition to direct excitation to the repulsive b ³Σ_u⁺ state for the first process, cross sections are also computed for excitation of the discrete levels of the a ³Σ_g⁺, c ³Pi_u, d ³Pi_u, and e ³Σ_u⁺ states in order to account for cascades. These two mechanisms are found to be of equal importance. The second process is found to proceed mainly through excitation of the B' ¹Σ_u⁺ state except near the threshold where e ³Σ/subu/⁺ is an important contributor. The theoretical cross sections are in reasonably good agreement with experimental data for the first process. The cross sections of the second process account for nearly two-thirds of the measured cross sections of H(2s) - atom production by electron impact. The difference is attributed mainly to predissociation and dissociative excitation through the doubly excited states.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-004023
• OSTI ID: 4198322
• Journal Information: Physical Review, A (General Physics), Journal Name: Physical Review, A (General Physics) Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 12; ISSN PLRAAN; ISSN 0556-2791
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*HYDROGEN-- ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CROSS SECTIONS
EXCITED STATES
S STATES