Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Alignment in molecular excitation for 3. 22-keV H/sub 2//sup +/-He collisions

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)
Electronic alignment in molecular excitation, relative to a specific internuclear axis orientation, has been observed for the first time, enabling specific detailed checks of the quasidiatomic molecular-orbital model in kiloelectronvolt atom-molecule collisions. The alignment was determined from the polarization of L/sub ..cap alpha../ radiation, resulting from the collision process H/sub 2//sup +/+He..-->..H /sub 2//sup +asterisk/+He ..-->..H/sup +/+H(2p)+He, for specific laboratory scattering angles of H/sup +/. The results suggest that, as in many ion-atom systems, rotational coupling is the dominant excitation mechanism.
Research Organization:
Behlen Laboratory of Physics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588
OSTI ID:
6049964
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 50:11; ISSN PRLTA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English