User:Karl.ahrendsen/sandbox

Dissociative electron attachment (DEA) is a physical process by which a low-energy electron temporarily attaches itself to a molecule, then as a result of that attachment, the molecule breaks into two fragments- one neutrally charged, and the other a negatively charged anion. The lifetime of the temporary state depends on the speed with which the molecule fragments separate as well as the rate at which autodetachment occurs. In the case that autodetachment occurs, the molecule does not dissociate and returns to its initial state with the possibility of also being rotationally or vibrationally excited. The specific energy of the electron determines which bonds in the molecule are broken, and thus the fragment pieces.

Two examples of applications related to the DEA process include damage to biological molecules as a result of ionizing radiation and the effect in plasmas used in etching microstructures for use in microchips.