CROSS-SECTION FOR THE MUTUAL NEUTRALIZATION REACTION H-2(+)+H-, CALCULATED IN A MULTIPLE CROSSING LANDAU-ZENER APPROXIMATION

A multiple-crossing Landau-Zener model is applied to calculate mutual neutralization cross sections for the reactions H++H- and H2++H- as a function of the principal quantum number n of the resulting H atom. For low-energy collisions (E≤10 eV), the total cross section for H2++H- is a factor of 8 larger than the one for H++H-. The cross section for the process including H2+, in which the H atom is excited to the quantum state n (2≤n≤8), has a nonmonotonic behavior as a function of the atomic quantum state. Comparison of the calculated results with newly received experimental data is made. © 1995 The American Physical Society.