Theoretical Progress And Challenges In H3\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e Dissociative Recombination

We discuss the Jahn-Teller mechanism for dissociative recombination in low energy collisions between electrons and H3+ ions, in energy ranges relevant to the processes underway in interstellar clouds. While theory has become capable of predicting recombination rates in reasonable agreement with storage ring experiments, some discrepancies remain with them, and a long-standing discrepancy with stationary afterglow measurements remains troubling. Speculations about the desirable improvements in both theory and experiment are presented. © 2006 The Royal Society