Research on Reference Data Set for Interactions Between Electrons and Atmospheric Gas Molecules

ORAL  · Invited

Abstract

To support modeling and diagnostics in the fields of low-temperature plasma and nuclear fusion, we have been conducting an international collaborative research project since 2013 to construct a reference data set for electron collisions with atmospheric gas molecules. This project is led by a group of globally recognized experts in theoretical and experimental research, and aims to provide reliable cross section data through systematic selection, analysis, and evaluation of scientifically and industrially important molecules.₄) and acetylene (C₂H₂). In 2019, the scope was expanded to include nitrogen oxides (NxOy) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃), which are important in both atmospheric chemistry and semiconductor processing. Subsequently, validated data sets were published for water vapor (H₂O) in 2021, molecular nitrogen (N₂) in 2023, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) in 2024. As of 2025, we are working toward completing the data set for molecular oxygen (O₂).

This presentation introduces the published data sets and describes the methodologies used for molecule selection, data evaluation, and validation. The resulting electron collision cross section data are expected to serve as foundational resources for establishing international standards in plasma modeling, and for advancing applications in fusion energy, environmental plasma processes, and next-generation manufacturing technologies.

*Plasma Big Data ICT Convergence Technology Research Project through the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology Information and Communication, Republic of Korea (EN2442). It was also partially funded by the Korea Meteorological Administration Research and Development Program under Grant No. RS-2022-KM221513 andthe U.S. National Science Foundation, Grants Nos. 2110279 and 2102188.

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Publication: 1. Mi-Young Song, Jung-Sik Yoon, Hyuck Cho, Yukikazu Itikawa, Grzegorz P. Karwasz, Viatcheslav Kokoouline, Yoshiharu Nakamura, and Jonathan Tennyson, "Cross Sections for Electron Collisions with Methane", Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data 44 (2015) 023101
2. Mi-Young Song, Jung-Sik Yoon, Hyuck Cho, Grzegorz P. Karwasz, Viatcheslav Kokoouline, Yoshiharu Nakamur, and Jonathan Tennyson, "Cross Sections for Electron Collisions with Acetylene" Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data 46 (2017) 013106
3. Mi-Young Song, Jung-Sik Yoon, Hyuck Cho, Grzegorz P. Karwasz, Viatcheslav Kokoouline, Yoshiharu Nakamura, James R. Hamilton, and Jonathan Tennyson, "Cross Sections for Electron Collisions with NF3" Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data 46 (2017) 043104.
4. Mi-Young Song, Jung-Sik Yoon, Hyuck Cho, Grzegorz P. Karwasz, Viatcheslav Kokoouline, Yoshiharu Nakamura, Jonathan Tennyson, "Cross Sections for Electron Collisions with NO, N2O, and NO2", J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 48, 043104 (2019)
5. Mi-Young Song, Hyuck Cho, Grzegorz P. Karwasz, Viatcheslav Kokoouline, Yoshiharu Nakamura, Jonathan Tennyson, Alexandre Faure, Nigel J. Mason, and Yukikazu Itikawa, "Cross Sections for Electron Collisions with H2O", J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 50, 023103 (2021)
6. Mi-Young Song, Hyuck Cho, Grzegorz P. Karwasz, Viatcheslav Kokoouline, and Jonathan Tennyson, Cross Sections for Electron Collisions with N2, N2*, and N2+, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 52, 023104 (2023)
7. Mi-Young Song, Hyuck Cho, Grzegorz P. Karwasz, Viatcheslav Kokoouline, and Jonathan Tennyson, Cross Sections for Electron Collisions with the CO2 Molecule and CO2+ Molecular Ion, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 53, 033102 (2024);

Presenters

  • Mi-Young Song

    • KFE
    • Korea Institute of Fusion Energy

Authors

  • Mi-Young Song

    • KFE
    • Korea Institute of Fusion Energy

  • Hyuck Cho

    • Chungnam National University

  • GRZEGORZ P KARWASZ

    • Nicolaus Copernicus University
    • University Nicolaus Coopernicus

  • Viatcheslav Kokoouline

    • University of Central Florida

  • Jonathan Tennyson

    • University College London