CaltechAUTHORS
  A Caltech Library Service

Quantum mechanical calculations of rotational-vibrational scattering in homonuclear diatom-atom collisions

Wagner, Albert F. and McKoy, Vincent (1973) Quantum mechanical calculations of rotational-vibrational scattering in homonuclear diatom-atom collisions. Journal of Chemical Physics, 58 (6). pp. 2604-2620. ISSN 0021-9606. doi:10.1063/1.1679543. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20120802-152512897

[img]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
See Usage Policy.

1MB

Use this Persistent URL to link to this item: https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20120802-152512897

Abstract

Most calculations of the vibrational scattering of diatom-atom collisions use the breathing sphere approximation (BSA) of orientation averaging the intermolecular potential. The resulting angularly symmetric potential can not cause rotational scattering. We determine the error introduced by the BSA into observables of the vibrational scattering of low-energy homonuclear diatom-atom collisions by comparing two quantum mechanical calculations, one with the BSA and the other with the full angularly asymmetric intermolecular potential. For ·reasons of economy the rotational scattering of the second calculation is restricted by the use of special incomplete channel sets in the expansion of the scattering wavefunction. Three representative collision systems are studied: H_2-Ar, O_2-He, and I_2-He. From our calculations, we reach two conclusions. First, the BSA can be used to analyze accurately experimental measurements of vibrational scattering. Second, measurements most sensitive to the symmetric part of the intermolecular potential are, in order, elastic cross sections, inelastic cross sections, and inelastic differential cross sections. Elastic differential cross sections are sensitive to the potential only if the collision is "sticky," with scattering over a wide range of angles; I_2-He is such a collision. Otherwise the potential sensitivity of elastic differential cross sections is concentrated in the experimentally difficult region of very small angle scattering.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1679543DOIUNSPECIFIED
http://jcp.aip.org/resource/1/jcpsa6/v58/i6/p2604_s1PublisherUNSPECIFIED
Additional Information:© 1973 The American Institute of Physics. Received 10 September 1971. We thank Dr. Robert J. Gordon for helpful discussions and the use of his JWKB phase shift computer program. Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow. Contribution No. 4331.
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Alfred P. Sloan FoundationUNSPECIFIED
Other Numbering System:
Other Numbering System NameOther Numbering System ID
Caltech Arthur Amos Noyes Laboratory of Chemical Physics4331
Issue or Number:6
DOI:10.1063/1.1679543
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20120802-152512897
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20120802-152512897
Official Citation:Quantum mechanical calculations of rotational-vibrational scattering in homonuclear diatom-atom collisions Albert F. Wagner and Vincent McKoy, J. Chem. Phys. 58, 2604 (1973), DOI:10.1063/1.1679543
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:32896
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By:INVALID USER
Deposited On:02 Aug 2012 23:49
Last Modified:09 Nov 2021 21:30

Repository Staff Only: item control page