M. Capitelli et al., Some aspects of electron-molecule scattering, molecular dynamics, and vibrational kinetics in nonequilibrium H-2/D-2 plasmas, PLAS PHYS R, 25(1), 1999, pp. 3-14
This paper reports recent efforts in the study of electron-molecule cross s
ections and the molecular dynamics of elementary processes acting in nonequ
ilibrium H-2/D-2 plasmas. Particular emphasis is given to the dependence of
the relevant cross sections on the vibrational quantum number. These resul
ts are then used to build up a kinetic code for obtaining information about
the vibrational distribution function of molecular species under different
plasma conditions (in particular, multicusp magnetic plasmas and edge plas
mas). Particular emphasis is also given to the formation kinetics of negati
ve ions in these kinds of plasmas emphasizing the possible role of Rydberg
states in affecting this type of kinetics.