BALMER ALPHA EMISSION IN COLLISIONS OF FAST H-2-MOLECULES WITH N-2, O-2, H2O AND CH4

Balmer alpha emission resulting from the passage of 10-100 keV H2 molecules through N2, O2, H2O and CH4 has been studied experimentally. For H2O and CH4 Doppler-shifted and unshifted Halpha emissions were separately recorded. Cross sections have been determined for (i) the production of fast H(3s) atoms, (ii) total Halpha emission from the fast projectile and (iii) Halpha emission arising from dissociative excitation of H2O and CH4. © 1990 IOP Publishing Ltd.