The rate of dissociative electron capture by heavy molecular ions is developed in the semiclassical formalism. The quantum treatment of the rate coefficient is also outlined. In the case of $\mathrm{O}_2^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$, $\mathrm{N}_2^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$, and $\mathrm{He}_2^{}{}_{}{}^{+}$ the calculated rate coefficients are 1.14×${10}^{-7\mathrm{}}$, 2.0×${10}^{-7\mathrm{}}$, and 2.1×${10}^{-8\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^3$/sec, respectively, at 300°K, as compared with the experimental values (1.7±1)×${10}^{-7\mathrm{}}$ and (2.8±0.5)×${10}^{-7\mathrm{}}$, and the upper limit 4.0×${10}^{-9\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^3$/sec, respectively.

• Received 1 September 1965

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.144.120