Determination of collision rate constants of fluorocarbon ions by ion cyclotron resonance

Abstract

Total collision rate constants at thermal energies of alkane and perfluoroalkane ions are determined by the pressure broadening of ion cyclotron resonance lines of ions produced by electron impact. Thermal ion mobilities are also derived. The collisions of the alkane ions are dominated by a polarization potential so that molecular polarizabilities may be obtained from the collision rate constants. Fluorocarbon ion collisions also seem dominated by a polarization potential and polarizabilities are derived for comparison with semiempirical calculations.