Intermediate coupling approach to the collisional stabilization step in ternary ion-molecule association reactions

Abstract

Ternary ion-molecule association reactions (A + + B + AB + + C) are known to possess rate coefficients with an inverse dependence on temperature. This inverse temperature dependence has been partially reproduced by theories that posit intermediate AB +* complex formation and redissociation but do not consider the details of complex stabilization by collision. In this paper, the additional temperature, dependence of the complex collisional stabilization step is investigated theoretically. Our results indicate that the collisional stabilization step itself possesses a T o-T −1 dependence, in agreement with recent experimental studies.