Dynamics of the collision induced rotational excitation of diatomic molecules in a Π(-state: Classical trajectory studies for the Li 2(B 1 Π u) - Noble gas system

Abstract

Rotationally inelastic collisions of noble gas atoms and electronically excited Li 2(B 1 Π u) have been studied theoretically in the classic approximation. We propose a simple potential model for the interaction between the colliding particles. Cross sections are calculated by a Monte-Carlo average over the classical trajectories. The comparison with results from laser induced fluorescence experiments is satisfactory. The dynamics of the angular momentum transfer, in particular, an orientation effect of the π-electron distribution is investigated.