Some aspects of electron-molecule scattering, molecular dynamics, and vibrational kinetics in nonequilibrium H2/D2 plasmas

This paper reports recent efforts in the study of electron-molecule cross sections and the molecular dynamics of elementary processes acting in nonequilibrium H-2/D-2 plasmas. Particular emphasis is given to the dependence of the relevant cross sections on the vibrational quantum number. These results are then used to build up a kinetic code for obtaining information about the vibrational distribution function of molecular species under different plasma conditions (in particular, multicusp magnetic plasmas and edge plasmas). Particular emphasis is also given to the formation kinetics of negative ions in these kinds of plasmas emphasizing the possible role of Rydberg states in affecting this type of kinetics.