Abstract
The energy degradation of energetic (hot) atoms can be characterized by a parameter, α, termed the average logarithmic energy loss. In previous gas phase studies of energetic atoms α has been calculated assuming rigid-sphere collisions. It is shown how α may be calculated using more realistic, ``softer'' intermolecular potentials, and the method is applied to the interaction of energetic hydrogen atoms with helium, methane, and hydrogen. Large differences are found between the rigid-sphere values and the soft-sphere values. The previously developed kinetic theory of hot atoms is not affected, but it is shown that the interpretation of hot-atom data depends strongly on which interaction model is assumed. In the case of hot hydrogen atoms the calculations indicate that values for both collisional energy transfers and reaction probabilities may be reduced by an order of magnitude when the soft-sphere model is used.
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