SUPERELASTIC CROSS-SECTIONS IN E(-)-H-2 SCATTERING

We present superelastic cross sections of H-2 by electron impact. Our results, obtained with the Schwinger multichannel method, include cros s sections for the c (3) Pi(u)--> X (1) Sigma((+))(g), c (3) Pi(u)--> b (3) Sigma((+))(u), c (3) Pi(u)--> a (3) Sigma((+))(g), and elastic c (3) Pi(u)--> c (3) Pi(u) transitions. The calculated cross sections a re very large, indicating their importance in the modeling of discharg e environments. We also investigate the dependence of these cross sect ions on the internuclear separation of the H atoms and on different ap proximations of the target wave function. To assess the role of the ex change potential in these processes, we also present the corresponding polarization fractions.