Dissociative recombination e− + O2+ → O(1D) + O(3P) in a strong laser field

Abstract

The low-temperature dissociative recombination reaction e⁻ + O₂⁺ → O(¹D) + O(³P) in the field of monochromatic laser radiation with the frequency range 13 000–25 000 cm⁻¹ is studied. We take into account the direct and resonance nonradiative transitions, free–bound radiative transitions into field-induced predissociative Rydberg n₁pπ_u(³Σ⁻_u) states, and bound–bound dipole-allowed transitions from intermediate Rydberg states into Schumann–Runge continuum mixed with the low-lying 3pπ_u(³Σ⁻_u) Rydberg state. The analysis is performed in terms of multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT) using the stationary formalism for the radiative collision matrix. Calculations of wavefunctions and the adiabatic terms of the system are carried out. The dependences of the reaction cross section on the incident electron energy, the external electromagnetic field strength and frequency, as well as the angle between the directions of the electron beam and the electric vector for linearly polarized radiation are calculated. The cross section is shown to increase by several orders of magnitude for a certain choice of these parameters, suggesting possible laser stimulation of this reaction.