Electron attachment to valence-excited CO

Abstract

The possibility of electron attachment to the valence ${}^3\hat{I}$ state of CO is examined using an {\it ab initio} bound-state multireference configuration interaction approach. The resulting resonance has ${}^4\hat{I}{\pounds }^{-}$ symmetry; the higher vibrational levels of this resonance state coincide with, or are nearly coincident with, levels of the parent $a^3\hat{I}$ state. Collisional relaxation to the lowest vibrational levels in hot plasma situations might yield the possibility of a long-lived CO${}^{-}$ state.

Revtex file + postscript file for one figure