Low-energy e-H2+collisions using the R-matrix method

Abstract

The R-matrix method is applied to the electronic excitation of the hydrogenic molecular ion by low-energy electron impact using a two-state coupled-channel formalism. Polarisation effects are accounted for by means of an optical potential which involves no arbitrary parameters. These are the first calculations of this type in which both channel coupling and correlation effects are explicitly included. Good agreement is obtained with other computational techniques. New estimates are made of the positions and widths of the two lowest resonances in each of the Sigma and Pi symmetry states. Excitation cross sections Q(1 sigma _g,1 sigma _u) are also presented.