Kinetic Theory Analysis of Electron Attachment Cooling in Oxygen

Abstract

The attachment cooling effect observed by Hegerberg and Crompton (1983) has been analysed theoretically and numerically in a Boltzmann equation eigenvalue approach. The effect is highly sensitive to the shape and magnitude of the rotational excitation cross sections. When due account is taken of the rotational excitations associated with the (0‾₂) negative ion resonances, good agreement between theory and experiment can be obtained with reasonable input cross-section data.