The latest molecular data-potential energy curves and Rydberg/valence interactionscharacterizing the super-excited electronic states of CO are reviewed, in order to provide inputs for the study of their fragmentation dynamics. Starting from this input, the main paths and mechanisms for CO + dissociative recombination are analyzed; its cross sections are computed using a method based on multichannel quantum defect theory. Convoluted cross sections, giving both isotropic and anisotropic Maxwellian rate coefficients, are compared with merged-beam and storage-ring experimental results. The calculated cross sections underestimate the measured ones by a factor of two, but display a very similar resonant shape. These facts confirm the quality of our approach for the dynamics, and call for more accurate and more extensive molecular structure calculations.

No abstract