Ionization of CF₃CH₂F by Protons and Photons

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors present their work on the ionization of the refrigerant CF₃CH₂F by protons and photons. This substance can be detected in household appliances, in the Earth's atmosphere, and can be used in detector technology for nuclear and high-energy physics. There is little experimental data on this topic, although such information is necessary, for example, when studying secondary cosmic ray fluxes. Existing models provide an inaccurate description of the interaction with molecules. The authors consider various processes and offer their own description of the processes of interaction with CF₃CH₂F. The work contains calculations within the framework of the Rudd model, a comparison with other approaches. It is noted that for a thorough study of the issue, it is necessary to combine approaches and take into account experimental data, especially in problematic energy areas. The article can be published in its current version.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
1. Summary
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript. Please find the detailed responses below and the corresponding revisions/corrections highlighted/in track changes in the re-submitted files.
3. Point-by-point response to Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Comments 1: The authors present their work on the ionization of the refrigerant CF₃CH₂F by protons and photons. This substance can be detected in household appliances, in the Earth's atmosphere, and can be used in detector technology for nuclear and high-energy physics. There is little experimental data on this topic, although such information is necessary, for example, when studying secondary cosmic ray fluxes. Existing models provide an inaccurate description of the interaction with molecules. The authors consider various processes and offer their own description of the processes of interaction with CF₃CH₂F. The work contains calculations within the framework of the Rudd model, a comparison with other approaches. It is noted that for a thorough study of the issue, it is necessary to combine approaches and take into account experimental data, especially in problematic energy areas. The article can be published in its current version.
Response 1:  Thank you

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper is calculating proton collisions with hydrofluorocarbons, examining specifically collision cross sections and stopping power. This paper aims to fill in the gaps on missing data. The authors use Rudd's semi-empirical model, which has shown to be reliable against TDDFT calculations.

Overall, the paper is well written, clearly presented and organized in a way that makes it easy to read. It is well cited. I have no further comments for the paper. It can be published as-is.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
1. Summary
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript. Please find the detailed responses below and the corresponding revisions/corrections highlighted/in track changes in the re-submitted files
3. Point-by-point response to Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Comments 1: This paper is calculating proton collisions with hydrofluorocarbons, examining specifically collision cross sections and stopping power. This paper aims to fill in the gaps on missing data. The authors use Rudd's semi-empirical model, which has shown to be reliable against TDDFT calculations. Overall, the paper is well written, clearly presented and organized in a way that makes it easy to read. It is well cited. I have no further comments for the paper. It can be published as-is.
Response 1: thank you

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript reports that authors used Rudd's semiempirical model to evaluate proton-impact ionization cross sections in the CF₃CH₂F molecule using a parameterized approach. The Photoionization crosssection was computed to validate the proton-induced ionization results at high energies. The results are interesting. It is known that the solar proton event influences the atmospheric chemical processes. However, information about its influence on the atmospheric lifetimes of freons is scarce. The paper provides some new knowledge on it.

Comments.

The way of the writing style of this paper is a paper for a physics journal. Authors need to make significant revisions. The content in the introduction and results should be combined with atmospheric issues. For example, the solar proton event that may be relevant to this study was not fully introduced in the introduction.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 3 Comments
1. Summary
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript. Please find the detailed responses below and the corresponding revisions/corrections highlighted/in track changes in the re-submitted files.
3. Point-by-point response to Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Comments 1: The manuscript reports that authors used Rudd's semiempirical model to evaluate proton-impact ionization cross sections in the CF₃CH₂F molecule using a parameterized approach. The Photoionization cros ssection was computed to validate the proton-induced ionization results at high energies. The results are interesting. It is known that the solar proton event influences the atmospheric chemical processes. However, information about its influence on the atmospheric lifetimes of freons is scarce. The paper provides some new knowledge on it. Comments. The way of the writing style of this paper is a paper for a physics journal. Authors need to make significant revisions. The content in the introduction and results should be combined with atmospheric issues. For example, the solar proton event that may be relevant to this study was not fully introduced in the introduction.
Response 1:  Thank you for pointing this out. I/We agree with this comment. Therefore, we have added in the introduction and in the results sections a discussion on  atmospheric issues

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript reports the TDDFT calculations for the photoabsorption cross sections of CF3CH2F and the calculation of proton-impact ionization cross sections of the CF₃CH₂F molecule with the Rudd's semiempirical model. The ionization cross-sections of photons and protons are very important constants for chemical substances. For CF3CH2F, the ionization cross sections by protons have been unavailable till now. The results reported in this paper are valuable.

 

Comments:

1. The manuscript has been improved substantially.
2. The title of the paper is "Ionization of CF₃CH₂F by protons and photons". However, the abstract of the paper doesn't conclude the calculated results (data). Either change the title of the paper or revise the abstract.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript reports the TDDFT calculations for the photoabsorption cross sections of CF3CH2F and the calculation of proton-impact ionization cross sections of the CF₃CH₂F molecule with the Rudd's semiempirical model. The ionization cross-sections of photons and protons are very important constants for chemical substances. For CF3CH2F, the ionization cross sections by protons have been unavailable till now. The results reported in this paper are valuable.

 

Comments:

1. The manuscript has been improved substantially.
2. The title of the paper is "Ionization of CF₃CH₂F by protons and photons". However, the abstract of the paper doesn't conclude the calculated results (data). Either change the title of the paper or revise the abstract.

 

Response: We have added this information to the abstract. Thanks