Electron-impact excitation of the Rydberg levels of the oxygen molecule

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physical Review, A; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.42.4391· OSTI ID:6314683

Chung, S; Lin, C C ^[1]; Lee, E T.P. ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (USA)
2. Geophysics Laboratory (U.S. Air Force Systems Command), Bedford, MA (USA)

Electron-impact cross sections for exciting the oxygen molecule from the ground electronic level to the {ital ns}{sigma}{sub {ital g}}, {ital np}{sigma}{sub {ital u}}, {ital nd}{sigma}{sub {ital g}}, {ital nf}{sigma}{sub {ital u}}, {ital np}{pi}{sub {ital u}}, {ital nd}{pi}{sub {ital g}}, and {ital nf}{pi}{sub {ital u}} Rydberg levels associated with the O{sub 2}{sup +}({ital B} {sup 2}{Sigma}{sub {ital g}}{sup {minus}}) and O{sub 2}{sup +}({ital b} {sup 4}{Sigma}{sub {ital g}}{sup {minus}}) cores are presented. For each Rydberg series of a given {ital l}, {ital m}, and O{sub 2}{sup +} core state, the cross sections exhibit {ital n} dependence of the form {ital n}{sup {minus}{alpha}} with {alpha} varying from one series to another in the range of 1.47 to 4.60 in contrast to the more universal {ital n}{sup {minus}3} dependence for the hydrogen atom. The potential cusps at the two nuclear sites of the molecule make the Rydberg orbital density near the origin quite different from that of the hydrogen atom, thereby spoiling the simple {ital n}{sup {minus}3} dependence.

• OSTI ID: 6314683
• Journal Information: Physical Review, A; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, A; (USA) Vol. 42:7; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
COLLISIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
EXCITED STATES
HYDROGEN
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
RYDBERG STATES