title: Communication: atomic and molecular Rydbergs from water.
abstract: We report the formation of energetic neutral Rydberg hydrogen atoms and transient Rydberg molecular ions, [(H(2)O)(q+)](⋆) in ion-impact dissociation of isolated water molecules. The kinetic energy spectra of the neutral Rydberg H atoms are determined from the complete study of (H(⋆), H(+), O(+)) dissociation channel. This channel of water dissociation is suggested as a possible additional source of the energetic neutrals detected in upper atmospheres of extra solar planets, and of slow electrons which are known to play a major role in radiation induced damage to living cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi - 110007, India. jyotirajput2803@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rajput
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Safvan
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D006859:Hydrogen