Abstract

The radiative association rates for the formation of LiHe+ molecules in their ground electronic state have been calculated employing an accurate ab initio potential energy curve and the dipole moment function. The enhancement of this rate, which may arise from stabilizing emissions stimulated by the cosmic background radiation field, has also been calculated and analyzed in the context of early universe conditions. Direct photodissociation processes have also been studied using local thermal equilibrium cross sections and rates are reported for temperatures between 600 and 9000 K. These photochemical processes are in turn analyzed and discussed as a function of the redshift z that is expected to operate in the early universe chemical kinetics. All data suggest very low residual abundances of this molecule and therefore its marginal role within early universe chemistry.