Formation of the simplest stable negative molecular ion H3- in interstellar medium
Atomic Physics
2009-10-14 v1 Plasma Physics
Abstract
We present the theory of radiative association of atoms and molecules, and we apply it to the (H-H) van der Waals complex. We discuss the possibility for the H ion to be formed in the interstellar medium in an environment with abundant ionized molecular hydrogen H. The observation of H would also be a probe for the presence of H in the interstellar medium. By computing the electronic structure of the H ion, we determine its dipole moment, bound states, rotational constants, predissociated vibrational resonances and their lifetimes, and suggest a way to detect the ion in the interstellar medium.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.0910.2330,
title = {Formation of the simplest stable negative molecular ion H3- in interstellar medium},
author = {V. Kokoouline and M. Ayouz and R. Guerout and M. Raoult and J. Robert and O. Dulieu},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0910.2330},
year = {2009}
}