Level to level differential cross sections for vibrationally--rotationally inelastic collisions of Na/sub 2/ with Ar

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · J. Chem. Phys.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6439336

Serri, J A; Becker, C H; Elbel, M B; Kinsey, J L; Moskowitz, W P; Pritchard, D E

We report measurements of differential cross sections of rotationally (Dj = 15 to 79)--vibrationally (Dv = 1) inelastic collisions in ground electronic state Na/sub 2/ with Ar on a level to level basis. The experiment is performed using crossed supersonic molecular beams and two dye lasers, one for tagging the initial level (v = 0, j/sub i/ = 7), and the second for detection of the final level (v = 1, j/sub f/ = 7+Dj) and scattering angle q. A description of the experimental apparatus and technique is given. The differential cross sections all exhibit a pronounced rise at some minimum angle to a maximum followed by a gradual decline out to q = r. The angular positions of the rise and peak increase nearly linearly with Dj. The Dv = 1, Dj integral cross sections are roughly constant in size even though the inelasticity (DE) varies over a large fraction of the available initial kinetic energy (approx.2400 cm/sup -1/); by comparison, the Dv = 0, Dj integral cross sections, over a similar range in Dj, follow a power law dependence in DE. The qualitative features of both the differential and integral cross sections appear consistent within the framework of a classical, sudden collision on a sharply repulsive potential.

• Research Organization: Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
• OSTI ID: 6439336
• Journal Information: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 74:9; ISSN JCPSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
ARGON
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
BEAMS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTIONS
DIMERS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
GASES
METALS
MOLECULAR BEAMS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
ROTATIONAL STATES
SODIUM
VIBRATIONAL STATES