Impact broadening of the dt micro formation resonances.

Abstract

The density dependence of dt\ensuremath{\mu} molecular formation has been treated as a line-broadening process in the impact approximation. In the present paper, elastic cross sections and their coherent difference are calculated for ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$+${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ and (dt\ensuremath{\mu})dee+${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ collisions. Together with the rotationally inelastic cross sections previously calculated [Phys. Rev. A 37, 329 (1988)] using the same accurate intermolecular potential, this provides all cross sections needed for evaluation of the width in the impact approximation. The impact width is dominated by elastic scattering and, at the temperature 23 K and liquid-hydrogen density, has the value 14 meV, which is more than three times the previously calculated value.