Quantum dynamics of quasiresonant vibration-rotation energy transfer in Li2-Ne scattering.

Abstract

This Rapid Communication reports fully quantum-mechanical calculations of inelastic-scattering cross sections for Li/sub 2//sup */(v/sub i/,j/sub i/) +Ne..-->..Li/sub 2//sup */(v/sub f/,j/sub f/)+Ne with 40less than or equal toj/sub i/less than or equal to100. The calculations are performed within the coupled-states approximation. They reveal large cross sections for vibrational relaxation to remarkably narrow final-rotational-state distributions. The theoretical cross sections reproduce the ..delta..j = -4..delta..v correlation observed experimentally. Comparison of the quantum-mechanical results to classical trajectory calculations confirms the accuracy of the latter procedure.