Molecular Processes in Plasmas

The author graduated from the Physics Department, University of Tokyo. As a PhD thesis, he studied the theoretical plasma physics. He has been working at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (before the organizational change in 1982, the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science, University of Tokyo) for more than thirty years. He is now the professor emeritus at the Institute. His main interest is in the theoretical atomic and molecular physics, particularly on the electron or photon collisions with molecules. He is also interested in the application of the atomic and molecular physics to other fields (space science, plasma physics, radiation interaction with matter, etc.). He has personally organized an activity of compilation of cross section data. He published, with his colleagues, data reviews on electron collisions with molecules such as N2, O2, CO2, and H2O. He served as the editor of the volume of the Landolt Börnstein series on electron/photon collisions with atoms, molecules, and ions.

• 1. Introduction.- 2. Plasmas Involving Molecules.- 3. Collision Cross Sections and Related Quantities.- 4. Molecule as a Collision Partner.- 5. Electron Collisions with Molecules.- 6. Ion Collisions with Molecules.- 7. Electron Collisions with Molecular Ions.- 8. Summary of the Roles of the Molecular Processes in Plasmas.- A. Order of Magnitude of Macroscopic Quantities.- B. Molecular Properties.- C. Atomic Units and Evaluation of the Born Cross Section.- D. Cross Section Sets for H2, N2, H2O, and CO2.- E. How to Find Cross Section Data.- F. Data Compilations for Electron-Molecule Collisions.- G. Data Compilations for Ion-Molecule Relations and Related Processes.