Convergent close-coupling calculations of electron scattering on HeH⁺

The helium hydride molecular ion HeH⁺ is comprised of the two most universally abundant elements, hydrogen and helium. Along with the hydrogen molecule, HeH⁺ is expected to form in the cooler edge and divertor regions of fusion reactors, where it is well-known that electron collisions with molecular species play an important role in governing the plasma dynamics.

Understanding the important influence of electron collisions with molecules in plasmas requires accurate cross-section data for many reactions over a broad range of collision energies. Here we apply the molecular convergent close-coupling method to study electronic excitation and ionization from the ground (electronic and vibrational) state of HeH⁺.

Previous calculations for this collision system have been almost exclusively limited to low-energy rovibrational excitation, and the only available measurements are for helium-ion production following electron-impact dissociation of HeH⁺. In this poster, we present cross sections for ionization, and excitation of the first 18 excited electronic states, which we use to estimate the He⁺ production cross section for comparison with the experiment.