Cross sections for ionization of metastable rare-gas atoms (Ne*, Ar*, Kr*, Xe*) and of metastable N/sub 2/*,CO* molecules by electron impact. [6 to 250 eV, Born and binary encounter approximations]

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Phys. Rev., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.15.517· OSTI ID:7130508

Ton-That, D; Flannery, M R

Cross sections for the collisional ionization of the metastable atoms Ne*, Ar*, Kr*, and Xe* by electrons with impact energy E in the range 6 < E < 250 eV are determined in the Born and binary-encounter approximations. For low energies epsilon of ejection, the s-d and s-f bound-free transitions dominate the associated form factor, while transitions to continuum states with progressively higher angular momentum gain importance with increasing epsilon. While up to nine partial waves are normally sufficient for convergence of the bound-free form factor at a given energy epsilon and momentum change K of the ejected electron, as many as 30 are required for those K in the vicinity of the Bethe ridge at large epsilon. These properties are the origin of the overall closeness obtained between the Born and binary-encounter cross sections. Also inner-shell ionization, as described by the binary-encounter treatment, becomes increasingly important as the target atom becomes more complex. Cross sections for ionization of metastable N/sub 2/* and CO* are also determined. Good agreement with available measurements (for Ne* and Ar*) is obtained. (AIP)

• Research Organization: School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
• OSTI ID: 7130508
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., A; (United States) Vol. 15:2; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular &amp; Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ARGON
ATOM COLLISIONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
ION COLLISIONS
ION-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
IONIZATION
KRYPTON
METASTABLE STATES
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NEON
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RARE GASES
XENON