Rate of formation of hydrogen molecules by three-body recombination during primordial star formation

Abstract

Astrophysical models of primordial star formation require rate constants for three-body recombination as input. The current status of these rates for H2 due to collisions with H is far from satisfactory, with published rate constants showing orders of magnitude disagreement at the temperatures relevant for H2 formation in primordial gas. This Letter presents an independent calculation of this recombination rate constant as a function of temperature. An analytic expression is provided for the rate constant which should be more reliable than ones currently being used in astrophysical models. © 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.