THEORETICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF HYDROCARBON SPECIES APPEARING IN PLASMA

In the present paper we discuss problems by evaluation of partition functions for several hydrocarbons ( CH₂, CH₂^-, CH₂⁺, C₂H, C₂H₂⁺) playing important roles in plasma chemistry in the laboratory and in space. Particular attention is paid to the species characterized with strong coupling of various degrees of freedom. It is shown that accurate partition functions for these species cannot be evaluated without detailed insight in the coupling mechanisms.