Monte Carlo Calculations of Cross Sections of Electron—Positive-Molecular-Ion Dissociative Recombination

Abstract

In a recent paper Bauer and Wu proposed a model which was self-consistent for the application of perturbation theory to the problem of calculating the general order of magnitude of cross sections of electron—positive-molecular-ion dissociative recombination. In applying their model to the calculation on a hypothetical system of electron capture by molecular hydrogen ions it was necessary to make several approximations, without which it would have been exceedingly difficult to evaluate certain matrix elements. We show here that Monte Carlo methods can be used for evaluating these matrix elements without resorting to approximations other than the model itself. The Monte Carlo method of stratified sampling has been tested successfully on the problem of capture of electrons by molecular hydrogen ions. The dissociative recombination coefficient is found to be of the order of 3×10−8 cm3/sec at room temperature, which is in excellent agreement with reported experimental results.