Dissociative excitation of nickel quintet states upon electron collisions with NiCl2 molecules

Dissociative excitation of nickel atom quintet states upon electron collisi ons with nickel dichloride molecules was studied by means of the extended c rossed beams technique combined with optical spectroscopy. Forty excitation cross sections were measured at an electron energy of 100 eV. Two optical excitation functions were detected in the electron energy range 0-100 eV. P ossible reaction channels at low electron energies were analyzed. Cross sec tions for dissociative excitation were compared to those for direct excitat ion upon electron collisions with nickel atoms.