https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2007-00244-0
Rotational cooling efficiency upon molecular ionization: the case of Li2(a3Σu+) and Li2+(X2Σg+) interacting with 4He
Dept. of Chemistry and CNISM, University of Rome “la Sapienza”, Ple A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Corresponding author: a fagiant@caspur.it
Received:
14
June
2007
Revised:
4
July
2007
Published online:
1
August
2007
The low-temperature (up to about 100 K) collisional (de)excitation cross sections are computed using the full coupled-channel (CC) quantum dynamics for both Li2 and Li2+ molecular targets in collision with 4He. The interaction forces are obtained from fairly accurate ab initio calculations and the corresponding pseudo-rates are also computed. The results show surprising similarities between sizes of inelastic flux distributions within final states in both systems and the findings are connected with the structural change in the molecular rotor features when the neutral species is replaced by its ionic counterpart.
PACS: 34.20.-b – Interatomic and intermolecular potentials and forces, potential energy surfaces for collisions / 34.50.Ez – Rotational and vibrational energy transfer / 34.50.Pi – State-to-state scattering analyses
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2007
