Dissociation of hydrogen molecular ions by fast protons

Inelastic collisions between H 2 + ions and fast protons are investigated. Using the Cohen-Coulson expansions for the electronic wave functions, calculations are carried out on the first Born approximation to the cross sections associated with transitions from the 1sσ state to the 2pσ, 2pπ, 2sσ and 3dπ states with the internuclear distance held at its equilibrium value. Dissociation due to the interaction between the projectile and the nuclei of the target is treated classically. With the aid of results due to Peek cross sections are obtained for H + +H 2 + (1sσ, ν, J ) → H + +H + +H(1s) and for H + +H 2 + (1sσ, ν, J ) → H + +H + +H(Σ') where Σ' indicates any excited state (including the continuum).