Adiabatic approximations for the nuclear excitation of molecules by low-energy electron impact: Rotational excitation of H/sub 2/
The adiabatic-nuclei (AN) theory of nuclear excitation in molecules is critically examined for low-energy e-H/sub 2/ collisions in the context of the rigid-rotor approximation. Theoretical concerns relevant to near-threshold scattering processes, where the AN theory is expected to be invalid, are discussed for rotational and vibrational excitation. A quantitative assessment of the AN theory for rotation and of an energy-modified approximation to this theory is obtained by comparison of approximate cross sections to results from laboratory-frame close-coupling calculations. The breakdown of the AN theory for rotation is found to be more severe at energies a few times threshold than was anticipated by rough qualitative arguments made heretofore.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019
- OSTI ID:
- 6813896
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 29:5; ISSN PLRAA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ADIABATIC APPROXIMATION
COLLISIONS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
HYDROGEN
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MOTION
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ROTATION