Dissociative electron attachment to the unstable carbon monosulfide molecule CS

Abstract

Dissociative electron attachment to the unstable CS molecule, carbon monosulfide, produced in a microwave discharge of carbon disulfide and helium has been observed in the electron energy range 0-10eV. The S- ion is formed in two electron attachment bands with maxima at 5.43 ± 0.15 eV and ∼6.70 ± 0.15eV and C- is formed in a band with a maximum of ∼6.40±0.15eV. Absolute cross sections for these processes are estimated to be 0.025, 0.003 and 0.002 Å2 respectively. These interactions of CS with low energy electrons will play a role in technological plasmas containing carbon and sulfur and extraterrestrial environments where electrons are present with 5-7 eV energy. New results are also presented for the molecules S2O, C3S2 and S2F, which were also formed in the microwave discharge. For S2O the previously reported S- band at 1.8 ± 0.3 eV is confirmed and a new O - attachment band at ∼5.4eV is tentatively assigned to S 2O. Ionization thresholds of C3S2 (9.4 ± 0.3 eV) and S2F (10.3 ± 0.4 eV) have been measured, apparently for the first time. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.