THE DISSOCIATIVE IONIZATION OF SIMPLE MOLECULES BY FAST IONS

This chapter discusses the dissociative ionization of simple molecules by fast ions. The process of dissociative ionization in heavy particle collisions has until recently been the subject of relatively little study despite its fundamental nature and its significance in determining the ionization, thermal balance and chemistry in interstellar clouds, planetary atmospheres, and comet tails. Therefore, many important features of even the most basic processes involving hydrogen molecules are still not completely understood. In recent years, three main groups have commenced detailed experimental investigations of different facets of the dissociative ionization of simple molecules in heavy particle collisions. Virtually all investigations to date have, mainly for experimental convenience, studied the dissociative ionization of homonuclear diatomic molecules by the beams of positive ions. Clearly future experiments will have to address the special problems of heteronuclear and polyatomic molecules and other heavy particle beams. © 1993, Academic Press Inc.