SEMICLASSICAL APPROXIMATION IN THE NONLOCAL THEORY OF RESONANCE PROCESSES IN SLOW COLLISIONS OF 2 ATOMS AND AN ELECTRON

The semiclassical approach in the framework of the nonlocal theory of resonant electron-molecule collisions is discussed. It is shown that in the simplest case of electron collision with a two atom system, which is characterised by repulsive energy curves, the integral equation of the nonlocal theory may be rearranged in the form of an inhomogeneous second-order differential equation. This equation, which determines the inelastic scattering amplitude as a function of the energy of the atoms in the final state, is in close agreement with the key equation of local theory (the ‘boomerang’ model of Herzenberg (1968)). The WKBJ solution of the equation obtained is discussed and the results of calculations for a model system and given. Some interference patterns in the dependences of the cross sections on the final energy are obtained. The mechanism causing these patterns is described. © 1990 IOP Publishing Ltd.