Inelastic collisions between atomic ions and diatomic molecules

Abstract

Measurements of rate coefficients for the charge exchange collision processes Ar⁺N₂, Ar⁺CO, Ar⁺O₂, Ar⁺NO, N⁺O₂, have been made in the energy range 0.04-2 eV in the injected ion drift tube. A new solution procedure for the diffusion problem is presented. Data are sensitive to secondary reactions caused by ions produced in the thermalization of the injected ions; systematic studies of suitable buffer gases habe been made to avoid errors arising from these reactions. Calculations habe been made of cross section functions for charge exchange and ion atom interchange processes using the 'nearest resonance' approximation, including allowance for the exchange interaction, and with restrictions placed upon the rotational quantum numbers of the molecular ion product.