The phenomena of radiative association and charge transfer observed in Ar H and Ar H collisions

Abstract

The aim of the present theoretical work is the characterization of argonium, namely, the molecular ions and , revealed in the last decade in the Crab Nebula and the PKS 1823-211 galaxy. The intent is to scrutinize the radiative processes of association, , and charge transfer, . To accomplish these two tasks, the corresponding potential-energy curves and dipole moments are chosen to construct the ground and the two first excited molecular states. Once all the required curves are well established and their physical and spectroscopic values are contrasted with previous published data, the cross sections, for the formation of the ionic dimer by radiative association and for the radiative charge transfer in the collisions, are computed quantum-mechanically at lower and higher energies. Finally, the temperature-dependent rate coefficients are calculated, and the numerical results are discussed and fitted to a selected analytical expression.