Molecular beam investigation of the effect of inner-shell electrons in molecular collisions

Abstract

Differential elastic scattering cross sections were obtained at thermal energies using crossed molecular beams for metastable Kr*, Ar*, Ne*, and He* scattered by ground−state krypton. Potential well depths are calculated from the location of the observed rainbow maxima and are compared to those for the analogous alkali atoms Rb, K, Na, and Li scattered by krypton. The effect of the inner−shell electrons on molecular collisions is deduced. At high electron shell levels, the (n−1) electron decreases the strength of the interaction during a collision whereas at low shell levels, the interaction strength is increased by the (n−1) electron. s and p electrons are shown to affect the interaction strength differently at the lowest shell level.