The semiquantal theory of heavy particle inelastic collisions with neutral atoms and molecules. II. Thermal, intermediate and high-energy collisions

Abstract

An expression for the internal energy-change suffered by an ion-pair via inelastic binary collisions with a neutral atom or molecule is formulated. On this basis, a semiquantal theory for neutral-neutral inelastic collisions is developed, and the derived cross sections satisfy the principle of detailed balance. The theory is applied to rotational transitions in molecular hydrogen arising from the resonant transfer at thermal energies of electronic energy of excited atoms and to the ionization of hydrogen and helium atoms by collision with hydrogen atoms at moderate and high energies of impact. 1. (a) Eq. (15) should read, cos Ψ ± = γ −2 {α(α + E f − E i) ± β[γ 2 − (α + E f − E i) 2] 1 2 } 2. (b) Delete; in Eq. (28a). 3. (c) The second line pr`eceding Eq. (61) should read: “to be Z 1 and z 2 for the case of excitation between two close levels and z 1 and Z 2…”. 4. (d) The last term of Eq. (65) is: −1 a[ π 1 2 /12λ 3(3λ − 2μ) ] + … . 5. (e) The first term on the right side of (66) is: ( π 1 2 /6λ 3 ) erf (λ − μ) 1 2 .