Potential energy surface for the study of inelastic collisions between nonrigid CO and H2

Imaging rotational energy transfer: comparative stereodynamics in CO + N2 and CO + CO inelastic scattering

State-to-state rotational energy transfer in collisions of ground ro-vibrational state ¹³CO molecules with N₂ molecules has been studied using the crossed molecular beam method under kinematically equivalent conditions used for ¹³CO + CO rotationally inelastic scattering described in a previously published report (Sun et al., Science, 2020, 369, 307-309). The collisionally excited ¹³CO molecule products are detected by the same (1 + 1' + 1'') VUV (Vacuum Ultra-Violet) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization scheme coupled with velocity map ion imaging. We present differential cross sections and scattering angle resolved rotational angular momentum alignment moments extracted from experimentally measured ¹³CO + N₂ scattering images and compare them with theoretical predictions from quasi-classical trajectories (QCT) on a newly calculated ¹³CO-N₂ potential energy surface (PES). Good agreement between experiment and theory is found, which confirms the accuracy of the ¹³CO-N₂ potential energy surface for the 1460 cm^-1 collision energy studied by experiment. Experimental results for ¹³CO + N₂ are compared with those for ¹³CO + CO collisions. The angle-resolved product rotational angular momentum alignment moments for the two scattering systems are very similar, which indicates that the collision induced alignment dynamics observed for both systems are dominated by a hard-shell nature. However, compared to the ¹³CO + CO measurements, the primary rainbow maximum in the DCSs for ¹³CO + N₂ is peaked consistently at more backward scattering angles and the secondary maximum becomes much less obvious, implying that the ¹³CO-N₂ PES is less anisotropic. In addition, a forward scattering component with high rotational excitation seen for ¹³CO + CO does not appear for ¹³CO-N₂ in the experiment and is not predicted by QCT theory. Some of these differences in collision dynamics behaviour can be predicted by a comparison between the properties of the PESs for the two systems. More specific behaviour is also predicted from analysis of the dependence on the relative collision geometry of ¹³CO + N₂ trajectories compared to ¹³CO + CO trajectories, which shows the special 'do-si-do' pathway invoked for ¹³CO + CO is not effective for ¹³CO + N₂ collisions.

Molecular square dancing in CO-CO collisions

Knowledge of rotational energy transfer (RET) involving carbon monoxide (CO) molecules is crucial for the interpretation of astrophysical data. As of now, our nearly perfect understanding of atom-molecule scattering shows that RET usually occurs by only a simple "bump" between partners. To advance molecular dynamics to the next step in complexity, we studied molecule-molecule scattering in great detail for collision between two CO molecules. Using advanced imaging methods and quasi-classical and fully quantum theory, we found that a synchronous movement can occur during CO-CO collisions, whereby a bump is followed by a move similar to a "do-si-do" in square dancing. This resulted in little angular deflection but high RET to both partners, a very unusual combination. The associated conditions suggest that this process can occur in other molecule-molecule systems.

Quenching of rotationally excited CO by collisions with H2

Quantum close-coupling and coupled-states approximation scattering calculations of rotational energy transfer in CO due to collisions with H2 are presented for collision energies between 10(-6) and 15,000 cm(-1) using the H2-CO interaction potentials of Jankowski and Szalewicz [J. Chem. Phys. 123, 104301 (2005); 108, 3554 (1998)]. State-to-state cross sections and rate coefficients are reported for the quenching of CO initially in rotational levels j2 = 1-3 by collisions with both para- and ortho-H2. Comparison with the available theoretical and experimental results shows good agreement, but some discrepancies with previous calculations using the earlier potential remain. Interestingly, elastic and inelastic cross sections for the quenching of CO (j2 = 1) by para-H2 reveal significant differences at low collision energies. The differences in the well depths of the van der Waals interactions of the two potential surfaces lead to different resonance structures in the cross sections. In particular, the presence of a near-zero-energy resonance for the earlier potential which has a deeper van der Waals well yields elastic and inelastic cross sections that are about a factor of 5 larger than that for the newer potential at collision energies lower than 10(-3) cm(-1).