Electron-attachment rates for carbon-rich molecules in protoplanetary atmospheres: The role of chemical differences

Abstract

The formation of anionic species in the interstellarmedium from interaction of linear molecules containing carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen as atomic components (polyynes) with free electrons in the environment is modelled via a quantum treatment of the collision dynamics. The ensuing integral cross-sections are employed to obtain the corresponding attachment rates over a broad range of temperatures for the electrons. The calculations unequivocally show that a parametrization form often employed for such rates yields a broad range of values that turn out to be specific for each molecular species considered, thus excluding using a unique set for the whole class of polyynes. © 2012 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.