Fine‐Structure Excitation of O i and C i by Impact with Atomic Hydrogen

Using accurate interaction potentials, we perform refined calculations of rate coefficients for the fine-structure excitations in collisions of O( 3 P ) and C( 3 P ) with atomic hydrogen. The results are presented in the form of analytical functions approximating the rate coefficients over a wide range of temperatures. We examine the sensitivity of the collision dynamics to variations of the interaction potentials and the couplings to electronically excited states.