Cross sections for 14-eV e-H2 resonant collisions: Dissociative electron attachment

The dissociative electron attachment (DEA) process in electron-H[sub]2 molecule collisions, involving the ^2Σ^+[sub]g excited electronic Rydberg state of molecular hydrogen ion H[sub]2^−, is investigated theoretically. The DEA cross section has been calculated within the local complex potential approximation. The convoluted cross section, which presents a peak located at the incident energy of about 14 eV, compares favorably with available experimental data

Cross sections for 11–14-eV e-H2 resonant collisions: Vibrational excitation

Resonant vibrational excitation (RVE) cross sections have been calculated for the electron-H2 molecule collisions in the energy range 11–14 eV involving the 2Σ+g excited electronic state of the molecular hydrogen ion H2−. This state, whose threshold is located around 14 eV, gives rise to the so-called series a of the observed peaks in electron-impact differential cross-section measurements. The calculations have been performed within the local complex potential approximation by using the available theoretical potential energy and width for the 2Σ+g resonant state. The cross sections for all vi=0→vf=1–14 RVE transitions have been calculated. A satisfactory agreement of calculated cross sections with the available experimental data is obtained

Electron-impact vibrational excitation of vibrationally excited H2 molecules involving the resonant 2(Sigma)g+ Rydberg-excited electronic state

Electron-impact theoretical cross sections and rate coefficients for vibrational excitation of vibrationally excited H2 molecules, occurring through the H−2 resonant species in the 2Σ+g Rydberg-excited electronic state, are presented. The cross sections are calculated as functions of the incident electron energy by adopting the local-complex-potential model for resonant collisions and by using ab initio calculated molecular potentials and resonance widths. The calculations have been extended to all possible vibrational transitions linking all 15 vibrational levels of the electronic ground state of the H2 molecule. The corresponding rate coefficients are also obtained as a function of the electron temperature by assuming a Maxwellian electron energy distribution function, and a simple analytical expression is derived. Finally, the present rate coefficients for the transitions starting from the lowest vibrational level of the H2 molecule are compared with those for the process involving the X2Σ+u resonant state of the H−2 molecular ion

Turbulence in Clusters of Galaxies and X-Ray Line Profiles

Large-scale bulk motions and hydrodynamic turbulence in the intergalactic gas inside clusters of galaxies significantly broaden X-ray emission lines. For lines of heavy ions (primarily helium-like and hydrogen-like iron ions), the hydrodynamic broadening is significantly larger than the thermal broadening. Since cluster of galaxies have a negligible optical depth for resonant scattering in forbidden and intercombination lines of these ions, these lines are not additionally broadened. At the same time, they are very intense, which allows deviations of the spectrum from the Gaussian spectrum in the line wings to be investigated. The line shape becomes an important indicator of bulk hydrodynamic processes because the cryogenic detectors of new generation of X-ray observatories will have a high energy resolution (from 5 eV for ASTRO-E2 to 1-2 eV for Constellation-X and XEUS). We use the spectral representation of a Kolmogorov cascade in the inertial range to calculate the characteristic shapes of X-ray lines. Significant deviations in the line profiles from the Gaussian profile (shape asymmetry, additional peaks, sharp breaks in the exponential tails) are expected for large-scale turbulence. The kinematic SZ effect and the X-ray line profile carry different information about the hydrodynamic velocity distribution in clusters of galaxies and complement each other, allowing the redshift, the peculiar velocity of the cluster, and the bulk velocity dispersion to be measured and separatedComment: 29 pages, 12 figures, Astronomy Letters 2003, v.29, p.79

Ionization of hydrogen and hydrogenic ions by antiprotons

Presented here is a description of the ionization of hydrogen and hydrogenic ions by antiproton-impact, based on very large scale numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation in three spatial dimensions and on analysis of the topology of the electronic eigenenergy surfaces in the plane of complex internuclear distance. Comparison is made with other theories and very recent measurements.Comment: RevTex document, 11 pages, 4 Postscript figures are available from the authors, in press Phys. Rev. Let

Atomic and molecular data for spacecraft re-entry plasmas

The modeling of atmospheric gas, interacting with the space vehicles in re-entry conditions in planetary exploration missions, requires a large set of scattering data for all those elementary processes occurring in the system. A fundamental aspect of re-entry problems is represented by the strong non-equilibrium conditions met in the atmospheric plasma close to the surface of the thermal shield, where numerous interconnected relaxation processes determine the evolution of the gaseous system towards equilibrium conditions. A central role is played by the vibrational exchanges of energy, so that collisional processes involving vibrationally excited molecules assume a particular importance. In the present paper, theoretical calculations of complete sets of vibrationally state-resolved cross sections and rate coefficients are reviewed, focusing on the relevant classes of collisional processes: resonant and non-resonant electron-impact excitation of molecules, atom-diatom and molecule-molecule collisions as well as gas-surface interaction. In particular, collisional processes involving atomic and molecular species, relevant to Earth (N2, O2, NO), Mars (CO2, CO, N2) and Jupiter (H2, He) atmospheres are considered

Numerical description of discharge characteristics of the plasma needle

The plasma needle is a small atmospheric, nonthermal, radio-frequency discharge, generated at the tip of a needle, which can be used for localized disinfection of biological tissues. Although several experiments have characterized various qualities of the plasma needle, discharge characteristics and electrical properties are still not well known. In order to provide initial estimates on electrical properties and quantities such as particle densities, we employed a two-dimensional, time-dependent fluid model to describe the plasma needle. In this model the balance equation is solved in the drift-diffusion approach for various species and the electron energy, as well as Poisson's equation. We found that the plasma production occurs in the sheath region and results in a steady flux of reactive species outwards. Even at small (< 0.1%) admixtures of N-2 to the He background, N-2(+) is the dominant ion. The electron density is typically 10(11) cm(-3) and the dissipated power is in the order of 10 mW. These results are consistent with the experimental data available and can give direction to the practical development of the plasma needle. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics