Continuous Absorption by the Hydrogen Molecular Ion

A quantal calculation of the continuous absorption by $$\text{H}_{2}^{+}$$ ions in the transition from the bound ($$1\text{s}\sigma\,^{2}{\Sigma }_{g}\,^{+}$$)state to the free ($$2\text{p}\sigma\,^{2}{\Sigma }_{u}\,^{+}$$)state has been carried out for temperatures of 2 500 deg. K and less. Comparison with the results of a semi-classical approximation by D. R. Bates shows substantial agreement.