Electron-impact study of NeF using theR-matrix method

Abstract

a configuration-interaction expansion which is shown to yield accurate potential energy curves and target properties. Elastic and inelastic collision cross sections for the four states are calculated ab initio using the R-matrix method. Special care is needed to treat the large dipole moments found for the charge-transfer states which are predicted to have electron collision cross sections almost two orders of magnitude bigger than the lower states. Differential and momentum transfer cross sections are also considered for the electron impact on the repulsive ground state. Rate constants for electron deexcitation of the excimer states of NeF have been calculated for electron temperature corresponding up to 10 eV. The superelastic processes are dominated by the 1 2+ →X 2+ transition with thermal rate constant of 2–5 10 �9 cm 3 s �1 in the entire range of electron temperature considered.