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A STUDY OF MOLECULAR HYDROGEN DISSOCIATION AT LOW KEV ENERGIES

DALE LYNN MONTGOMERY, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Abstract

The dissociations of molecules are investigated theoretically for the diatomic breakup of H(,2)('+*) following collisions between He('+) and H(,2), and investigated experimentally for the triatomic breakup of H(,3)('+*) following H(,3)('+) collisions with He. A three particle coincidence experiment is proposed and analyzed for the purpose of studying the reaction He('+) + H(,2) (--->) He + H(,2)('+*) (--->) He + H(2p) + H('+). This experiment is designed to better define the final state of the system. The three particles to be detected in coincidence are: the scattered He, the proton, and the L(,(alpha)) photon including its polarization. A theory of measurement is developed that interprets the polarization data in terms of amplitudes and phase differences which are defined in the molecular frame. This theory includes the fine and hyperfine structure of the atomic excited states, the rotational states of the molecule, the orientation in the lab frame of the H(,2)('+*) after collision and the molecular potential energies to describe the final state following the dissociation of H(,2)('+*). Since the general result is so complex, the radiation intensity equation is explicitly written out only for the three specific cases when the H(,2)('+*) is parallel to the lab X-, Y-, and Z-axes after the collision. A study of diatomic dissociation can be helpful in the understanding of more complex systems such as the breakup of H(,3)('+) after a collision in a target gas. An experimental investigation is done for the dissociation of H(,3)('+) where the molecular potential energies are unknown. The variation of relative total cross sections as a function of lab angle for H('+), H(,2)('+), and H('-) production are measured. In addition, a two particle coincidence experiment in which a H('+) and L(,(alpha)) photon are detected or an H(,2)('+) and L(,(alpha)) photon are detected as a function of the ion lab angle are measured from H(,3)('+) dissociation. No polarization analysis is done on the radiation. These results are compared to the dissociation of H(,2)('+), where the molecular potential energies are known.

Subject Area

Molecules

Recommended Citation

MONTGOMERY, DALE LYNN, "A STUDY OF MOLECULAR HYDROGEN DISSOCIATION AT LOW KEV ENERGIES" (1982). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8227028.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8227028

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