Destruction cross sections for low energy collisions of H+3 and D+3 with rare gas atoms

Abstract

Absolute total cross sections for collisional dissociation and charge transfer have been measured for collisions of H+3 and D+3 with He, Ar, and Xe for projectile energies ranging from 15 to 400 eV. The cross sections for collision-induced dissociation of H+3 into H++H2 or H+H+2 are a few Å2 and exhibit a weak target dependence. It is suggested that the charge transfer cross sections, which vary markedly with target species, are due primarily to proton transfer to the rare gas target rather than electron transfer from the target. At the lower collision energies, proton abstraction is favored over deuteron abstraction for the He and Ar targets.