Interactions of H and H- with He and Ne

Potential energies have been computed for the ground states of HeH, HeH-, NeH, and NeH- using the configuration-interaction method. The NeH- potential curve is found to cross into the HeH continuum at R=2.70a0 with a threshold energy of 1.34 eV. In contrast, the NeH- state is found only to merge with the NeH continuum at R 2.25a0 at an energy of 2.7 eV. These calculations suggest the threshold-energy collisional electron detachment for NeH- can be best described by the complex potential method, while the NeH- detachment mechanism is more akin to a charge transfer to the continuum process. © 1980 The American Physical Society.