Electron detachment in H^--molecule collisions

Abstract

Electron detachment in H--molecule (N2, O2, CO, D2 and CO2) collisions in the keV energy range is studied by a differential time of flight analysis of the neutral. Detachment occurs via three different processes: direct detachment, charge exchange to a shape resonance of the target molecule and detachment accompanied by excitation. The charge exchange process is theoretically analysed by the means of a simple model that considers the H- ion colliding with a molecule in the keV energy range as a wavepacket of free electrons impinging on the target molecule. It is thus possible to describe the H--molecule collisions in terms of the electron-molecule scattering amplitudes.