A simple model for the resonant vibrational excitation of molecules and the time evolution of electron-velocity distribution functions

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6098986

Drallos, P J

Part I. A simple model for the resonant vibrational excitation of a molecule by electron impact is proposed in which the potential curves of the electronic states of the molecule and its resonant anion are replaced by those of linear harmonic oscillators of arbitrary frequencies and equilibrium internuclear separations. A closed-form expression for the excitation amplitude is derived. Useful recursion relations among amplitudes are obtained which allow convenient evaluation of cross sections for vibrational excitation of Li{sub 2} and N{sub 2} by the impact of low energy electrons. Part II. A novel numerical technique for obtaining the time evolution of electron velocity and electron energy distribution functions in a gas in the presence of a uniform electric field is presented. Using this technique, the various swarm parameters can be evolved for sufficiently long times so that equilibrium can be reached without incurring any numerical instabilities. Results are presented for electron swarms in neon, argon, and a simple model gas, and also for positrons in neon.

• Research Organization: Wayne State Univ., Detroit, MI (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6098986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640302* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Atomic & Molecular Properties & Theory
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
ARGON
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FERMIONS
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONS
GASES
LEPTONS
LITHIUM
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
METALS
NEON
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
RARE GASES
VIBRATIONAL STATES