Simple scaling law for rotational-energy transfer in Na/sub 2/*-Xe collisions

Journal Article · Mon Sep 25 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.41.856· OSTI ID:6616627

Brunner, T A; Driver, R D; Smith, N; Pritchard, D E

We have measured the thermally averaged rate constants for rotationally inelastic collisions of Na/sub 2/* and Xe for six values of initial angular momentum j/sub 0/ and for changes in j up to 30. We propose a new scaling law which fits all these rates within 20%. This scaling law implies that m/sub j/ is conserved in the collisions, and shows that the square of the T matrix has a power-law dependence on the energy transferred. These results suggest the importance of dynamical effects in rotationally inelastic collisions.

• Research Organization: Research Laboratory of Electronic and Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
• OSTI ID: 6616627
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 41:13; ISSN PRLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXCITED STATES
INELASTIC SCATTERING
METALS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
ROTATIONAL STATES
SCALING LAWS
SCATTERING
SODIUM
XENON