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The population of the 2 s -level of hydrogen formed in the early Universe is studied within a standard and a non-standard quasi-molecular mechanism of recombination. We demonstrate that, if hydrogen molecular ion |$H_2^+$| temporarily formed during a collision directly dissociates into a hydrogen atom and a proton, both mechanisms of recombination lead to the same probabilities of population. These probabilities differ significantly, however, when attractive quasi-molecular channels are uninvolved and only repulsive channels remain in the treatment. The probabilities of the direct and indirect radiative transitions into the 2 s -level of hydrogen are evaluated. The dominant process in the population of 2 s -level of hydrogen is the direct free–bound radiative transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of a quasi-molecular approach, the formation of hydrogen atom in the pre-recombination period of evolution of the Universe is analysed quantitatively. Calculations in an adiabatic multilevel representation enable estimates of probabilities of radiative transitions. The quasi-molecular mechanism of recombination allows the formation of hydrogen molecular ion, |${\mathrm{ H}_2}^+$|⁠ , in its ground state. The probability of this process is comparable with the probability of the creation of atomic hydrogen. The participation of a second proton in the recombination increases the binding energy of an electron and decreases the rate of recombination of hydrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]