Quantum scattering of hot H/D on CO 2: Cross sections and rate coefficients for planetary atmospheres and their evolution
The study calculated quantum mechanical scattering cross sections for hot hydrogen and deuterium atoms colliding with CO2 molecules up to 5 eV. It found that simple mass-scaling methods overestimate total cross sections by factors of 30–45. Isotopic differences are also significant, showing deuterium causes higher momentum transfer than hydrogen at low energies. These findings revise estimates for energy transfer and atmospheric escape rates in CO2-rich planetary atmospheres.