Simplified model to describe the dissociative recombination of linear polyatomic ions of astrophysical interest

Abstract

We present results of a theoretical study on dissociative recombination of the HCNH⁺, HCO⁺ and N₂H⁺ linear polyatomic ions at low energies using a simple theoretical model. In the present study, the indirect mechanism for recombination proceeds through the capture of the incoming electron in excited vibrational Rydberg states attached to the degenerate transverse modes of the linear ions. The strength of the non-adiabatic coupling responsible for dissociative recombination is determined directly from the near-threshold scattering matrix obtained numerically using the complex Kohn variational method. The final cross sections for the process are compared with available experimental data. It is demonstrated that at low collision energies, the major contribution to the dissociative recombination cross section is due to the indirect mechanism.