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Vibrational quenching at ultralow energies: Calculations of the Li{sub 2}({sup 1}{sigma}{sub g}{sup +};{nu}>>0)+He superelastic scattering cross sections

Journal Article · · Physical Review. A
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0· OSTI ID:20787267
; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Rome La Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome (Italy)

Accurate quantum calculations have been carried out at ultralow energies (from 10{sup -2} to 10{sup -6} cm{sup -1}) for the vibrational deexcitation of Li{sub 2}({sup 1}{sigma}{sub g}{sup +}) by collisions with He, starting from a broad range of initial highly excited vibrational levels. The results indicate the clear dominance of a few transitions with the smallest {delta}{nu} changes and show the overall deexcitation cross sections to markedly depend on the initial vibrational state of the molecule, in line with earlier results on H{sub 2}+He [Balakrishan et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 3224 (1998)] vibrational quenching. A connection is made with very recent measurements on the vibrational quenching of ultracold Cs{sub 2} molecules in optical traps that were instead found to behave in a very different manner. Numerical experiments on the present system as well as on the H{sub 3} reaction strongly suggest a possible explanation for such differences.

OSTI ID:
20787267
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 73; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English