Quantum dynamics of O17 in collision with ortho- and para- O17O17

Abstract

We report full quantum scattering cross sections for the peculiar $^{17}\mathrm{O}+^{17}\mathrm{O}^{17}\mathrm{O}$ system, at relatively low collision energies. We consider different types of collision-induced transitions, as the indistinguishability of the three nuclei allows for the mixing of reactive, inelastic, and elastic processes. Furthermore, due to the nonzero nuclear spin of $^{17}\mathrm{O}$ and the existence of nuclear spin isomers ortho- and para-${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, we pay particular attention to transitions between these two species, that is, the ortho-para conversion process. We find that the corresponding cross section has a magnitude comparable to that of the ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}+{\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ counterpart.