Electron Interactions With BCl3

In this paper we review and assess the cross sections for collisions of low-energy electrons with boron trichloride (BCl3). The only available experimental cross section data are for partial and total ionization and electron attachment, and the electron attachment cross sections are uncertain. Calculated values are available for the total elastic, differential elastic, and momentum transfer cross sections, and derived cross sections have been published for vibrational excitation and dissociation. Other than some rather uncertain data on electron attachment rate constants and some measurements of electron drift velocities in BCl3/Ar and BCl3/He mixtures, there are no measurements of the electron attachment, ionization, or transport coefficients for this gas. Analysis of the experimental data on the electron affinity, electron attachment, and electron scattering, enabled identification of negative ion states of BCl3 at about −0.3, 1.0, 2.8, 5.2, 7.6, and 9.0 eV. Because the existing electron collision data are few and uncertain, relevant data are provided for photon impact on BCl3..