Millimeter-Wave Time Resolved Studies of the Formation and Decay of CO^+
Abstract
Since the rate constants for ion-molecule interactions are typically much larger than neutral-neutral interactions, understanding ion-molecule interactions is essential to interpreting radio astronomical spectra from interstellar clouds and modeling the processes which lead to the formation of stars in these regions. We have developed a cell which allows us to study ion-molecule interactions in gases at low temperatures and pressures by using an electron gun technique to create ions. By centering our millimeter-wave source on a rotational resonance and gating the electron beam on and off, we are able to study the time-dependent rotational state distribution of the ion during its formation and decay, and so learn about excitation and relaxation processes as functions of temperature, pressure, electron beam energy, and electron beam current.
- Publication:
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APS April Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- April 1998
- Bibcode:
- 1998APS..APR..D313O