Ion-quadrupole effects in thermal energy ion-molecule collision rate constants

A simplified version of the Averaged Quadrupole Orientation (AQO) theory is attempted, by taking into account the adiabatic invariance approximation, to investigate the effect of the ion-quadrupolar molecule interaction on thermal energy reaction rate constant. The theory is formulated in terms of an orientation averaged potential energy function and predicts a significant increase in the capture rate constant over the Langevin value for molecules with large quadrupole moments and small polarizabilities. The results of the theory are compared to various experimental data and predictions of other theories Developpement d'une version simplifiee de la theorie de l'orientation quadripolaire moyenne, en considerant la methode de l'invariant adiabatique, pour etudier l'effet du potentiel d'interaction d'un ion avec une molecule quadripolaire sur la constante de vitesse de la reaction aux energies thermiques