Atom–molecule collisions at very low energies: A correlation function approach

Abstract

An extension of the neutron diffraction formalism to low energy atom–molecule scattering including all recoil effects is presented. The nature of the atom–molecule interaction suggests that the diffraction model should be qualitatively correct in the low collision energy regime for vibrational relaxation. The customary impulsive collision assumptions which lead to the use of the Born approximation are replaced by more general transforms which account for possible distortion of the wave function by the potential. Model calculations for a simple vibrational deexcitation process are given.