Low Energy Atomic Collisions

A brief review of experimental studies of selected chemi-ionization and ion-molecule reactions conducted in the period 1 July 1970 - 30 June 1973 is presented. Measurements were made using either crossed or merging molecular beams. The reactants included ground and metastable helium, H2, H2(+), H, HeH(+), metastable Ne, and Ar. Measurements of absolute and relative cross sections as well as laboratory energy distributions of product ions were obtained. The studies were made to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of low-energy atomic collisions and to attempt to define the role played by the kinetic and internal energy of reactants. Results are compared with known theories such as those involving the Langevin and spectator-stripping models and cases are indicated where no existing theory is applicable. A list of papers is included. (Modified author abstract)