Cross sections for charge transfer of hydrogen atoms and ions colliding with gaseous atoms and molecules

Abstract

Analytic formulas are given for the total cross sections σ for charge transfer in collisions of hydrogen atoms and ions with gaseous atoms and molecules. The cross sections considered are σ 10, σ 0−1, σ 1−1, σ 01, σ −10, and σ −11, where the subscripts represent the initial and the final charge state of the hydrogen. The functional forms of the formulas are modifications of the semiempirical formula for σ 10 given by Green and McNeal. Values of adjustable parameters in the formulas have been determined by least-squares fits to a compiled set of experimental data and are given in a table. The curves given by the formulas are plotted in graphs together with the data. The root-mean-square deviation of the data from the formulas is typically about 20% except when there are large discrepancies among the measurements. Experimental data through 1982 are shown on the graphs; references through mid-1986 are listed.