Dissociative Recombination Theory Experiment And Applications Iii

In this book, the latest developments in the study of the dissociative recombination of electrons and molecular ions are discussed. This process is of great importance in controlling the physical and chemical states of ionized gases. It has direct application to astrophysics, aeronomy, thermonuclear fusion research, plasma processing and combustion science.

Proceedings of a NATO ARW held in Saint Jacut de la Mer, Brittany, France, May 3-8, 1992

Dissociative recombination is a complex molecular process that occurs in any plasma cold enough to contain molecular constituents. It is the dominant recombination process in planetary ionospheres and interstellar clouds. In this book, recent developments in the fields of molecular ion physics, atomic and molecular theory, astrochemistry, aeronomy and plasma physics are discussed.

Dissociative recombination is a complex molecular process that occurs in any plasma cold enough to contain molecular constituents. It is the dominant recombination process in planetary ionospheres and interstellar clouds. In this book, recent developments in the fields of molecular ion physics, atomic and molecular theory, astrochemistry, aeronomy and plasma physics are discussed.

Dissociative Recombination of Molecular Ions with Electrons is a comprehensive collection of refereed papers describing the latest developments in dissociative recombination research. The papers are written by the leading researchers in the field. The topics covered include the use of microwave afterglows, merged beams and storage rings to measure rate coefficients and to identify the products and their yields. The molecules studied range in size from the smallest, H2+, to bovine insulin ions. The theoretical papers cover the important role of Rydberg states and the use of wave packets and quantum defect theory to deduce cross sections, rate constants and quantum yields. Several theoretical and experimental papers address the controversial topic of H3+ dissociative recombination and its importance in the interstellar medium. Dissociative recombination studies of other molecular ions in the interstellar medium and in cometary and planetary atmospheres are covered. Ionization is an important competitive process to dissociative recombination and its competition with predissociation and its role in the reverse process of the association of neutral species is presented. Dissociative attachment, in which an electron attaches to a neutral molecule, has many similarities to dissociative recombination. The topics covered include the accurate calculation of electron affinities, attachment to molecules, clusters, and to species absorbed on solid surfaces and electron scattering by a molecular anion.

This report contains a summary of the papers presented at the International Symposium on Dissociative Recombination: Theory, Experiment and Applications held at Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. May 28-31, 1988. Dissociative recombination (DR) of molecular ions with electrons has important consequences in many areas of physical science. Theory: The proposed mechanism was several years in the making because it had to overcome two important obstacles. First, due to the mass mismatch, a collision with an electron could not be expected to cause a massive molecule to fall apart. The transfer of electronic energy to the nuclear motion is improbable. However, in Bate's proposed mechanism, the electron energy is transferred entirely to the electrons of the target molecule and a neutral state is formed in which the nuclear motion leads to the dissociation of the molecule. (jes).