Collision processes of C2,3Hy and C2,3Hy+ hydrocarbons with electrons and protons

Cross sections and rate coefficients are provided for inelastic collision processes of electrons and protons with CxHy and CxHy+ (x=2,3; 1less than or equal toyless than or equal to2x+2) hydrocarbon species in a wide range of collision energies and plasma (gas) temperatures. The considered processes include electron-impact ionization and dissociation of CxHy, dissociative excitation, ionization and recombination of CxHy+ with electrons, and both charge transfer and atom exchange in proton channels are considered separately. The presented cross sections are based upon a critical assessment of available experimental data and upon an extensive use of a number of semi-empirical, physically well grounded cross section scaling relationships. Information is also provided for the energetics of each individual reaction channel. The cross sections and rate coefficients are presented in compact analytic forms. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.