Calculation of electron interaction models in N₂ and O₂

Area of Science:

• Atmospheric chemistry
• Plasma physics
• Computational physics

Background:

• Cosmic rays influence atmospheric composition and chemical reactions through ion production.
• Accurate atmospheric models require precise simulation of particle-molecule interactions, including ionization states and spatial distribution.
• Current models lack detailed interaction probabilities for electrons with atmospheric gases across a wide energy range.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a comprehensive set of cross-section models for electron interactions with N2 and O2 molecules.
• To provide reliable data for electron transport simulations in the atmosphere.
• To improve the accuracy of atmospheric models concerning cosmic ray effects.

Main Methods:

• Development of elastic and inelastic cross-section models for electron scattering.
• Simulation of electron transportation in nitrogen and oxygen.
• Calculation of stopping power for validation.

Main Results:

• A set of cross-section models for electron interactions with N2 and O2 was generated, valid for energies from 10 eV to 1 MeV.
• Calculated results show good agreement with existing theoretical and experimental data.
• Stopping power calculations demonstrated good consistency, with relative differences below 6% compared to the ESTAR database.

Conclusions:

• The developed cross-section models provide a reliable basis for simulating electron transport in the atmosphere.
• These findings contribute to a better understanding of cosmic ray-induced atmospheric chemistry.
• The study offers essential data for enhancing the accuracy of atmospheric models.