Quantum mechanical scattering calculations for charge exchange: O + H+ ↔ O+ + H
Abstract
Thermal energy collisions of oxygen atoms with protons (O + H+) may lead to fine-structure excitation of the oxygen or to charge exchange (O+ + H). The reverse process, collisions of oxygen ions with hydrogen, may also lead to charge exchange. Detailed quantum mechanical calculations of these processes are presented here. The potential curves and coupling terms of 3Sigma- symmetry used are those recently calculated by Spirko et al (2000 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 33 2395-407). The other necessary potentials, the A 3Pi and 5Sigma curves, were taken from the literature. Cross sections for charge exchange and fine-structure excitation are reported. For several transitions, mechanisms based on curve crossings are proposed. The analysis indicates that the scattering cross sections are sensitive to the form of the molecular potentials for internuclear distances of 10- 15 a0. The only point of comparison with experiment is for rate constants for charge exchange, averaged over fine-structure levels. The present results, as well as other recent calculations, lie within the large error bars of the limited experimental data.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular Physics
- Pub Date:
- April 2003
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0953-4075/36/8/316
- Bibcode:
- 2003JPhB...36.1645S