Abstract:
New measurements are reported for the velocity dependence of the integral
cross-section for N2-N2 scattering showing the
glory oscillations.
These data are analysed along with recent high precision second-virial
coefficient data and traditional transport property measurements to
yield an
improved N2-N2 potential energy surface by adjusting
certain
parameters in the fit to this surface by van der Avoird et al. The
new
potential gives improved agreement with the integral cross section,
virial and transport data.
Transport and relaxation cross-sections sensitive to
anisotropy are very close to those obtained previously using the van
der Avoird et al.
surface. New comparisons with rotational relaxation and NMR relaxation
data
are reported.
Abstract:
An intense and stable continuous beam of S atoms and
SO radicals has been produced
with a microwave discharge source operating in the torr range
in mixtures of SO2 with various gases.
The beam emerging
from the plasma source is velocity analyzed by a mechanical velocity
selector and detected by a quadrupole mass filter.
Stern-Gerlach magnetic analysis
indicates that both species are generated
mainly in their electronic ground state and in the case of sulfur atoms
with fine-structure levels populated according
to their degeneracies.
Total integral cross section measurements are reported, as a
function of velocity in the range 1.0-2.5 km s-1,
for the scattering of S(3PJ) atoms and SO
(3Sigma) radicals by D2 molecules.
The analysis of experimental data (cross sections and their
velocity dependence, which exhibits glory interference patterns)
allows a characterization
of the spherically average component of the interaction potential
for the investigated
systems.
A discussion of the effect of the Sigma-Pi splitting,
spin-orbit and electrostatic (including
quadrupole-quadrupole) interaction on the
dependence of the hydrogen molecule orientation is given
for the S-H2 potential energy surface.
Abstract:
Total integral cross sections for scattering of oxygen molecules on
krypton and xenon atoms are measured in the thermal energy
range, as a function of the collision energy and under
a controlled alignment of the rotational angular momentum.
The cooling and control of the alignment have been achieved using
supersonic expansion in beams of oxygen molecules seeded
in various mixtures of lighter carriers [Nature, 371, 399 (1994)].
The analysis of the experimental results, based upon close coupling,
adiabatic and
semiclassical calculations of the cross sections, provides an accurate
characterization
in the intermediate and long intermolecular distance range of the full
anisotropic
potential energy surfaces for O2-Kr and O2-Xe systems. It also sheds
light on some important aspects of
the collision dynamics of the aligned molecules.
Abstract:
Molecular beam experiments on collisions between
oxygen molecules were performed at low energy and
high angular resolution to
permit observation of a quantum-mechanical interference effect
(the "glory"), and to accurately probe intermolecular interactions.
A novel technique [V. Aquilanti et al. Nature,
371, 399 (1994)]
for cooling oxygen to the lowest
vibro-rotational
state and for aligning the rotational angular momentum, allows the
control of the relative orientation of the colliding molecules
[V.Aquilanti et al., Phys. Rev. Lett.,
74, 2929 (1995)].
Analysis of scattering cross section data yields
for the O2-O2 bond
an energy of 1.65 +- 0.08 kJ mol-1
for the most stable
configuration which is established to be for the two molecules
parallel at a distance of 0.356 + -0.007 nm.
Dependence on relative orientations for the
ground singlet state surface and for the excited
triplet and quintet states is also obtained.
These results indicate that most of the bonding in the dimer comes
from electrostatic (van der Waals) forces but chemical (spin-spin)
contributions in this open-shell--open-shell
system are not negligible.
This first complete characterization of the interaction basic to the
theory of weak chemical bonds, is also relevant for the spectroscopy
and the dynamics of atmospheric gases,
and is of interest for modeling magnetism
in solid O2 and in O2 clusters.
Abstract:
Experimental investigations on the collisional alignment of the rotational
angular momentum, occurring in supersonic
seeded beams and in drift tubes, have recently documented a strong
dependence
of the observed effects on the final molecular velocity.
The present investigation aims at elucidating the possible mechanisms
at the molecular collision level.
Quantum state-to-state differential scattering cross sections, calculated
for the prototype system
O2-He, for an interaction potential previously obtained
in this laboratory,
exhibit propensities relevant to reveal nature and selective
role of the elastic and inelastic scattering events, participating
in the overall
mechanisms which lead to
molecular alignment and cooling. The present analysis shows
that the dynamics of such phenomena crucially depends on the initial
and final rotational state,
on the collision energy, on the involved orbital angular momentum and
therefore alternative routes are possible for
molecular polarization and relaxation. These routes lead to scattering
into
specific angular cones and therefore observations from different experiments
provide complementary
pieces of information which, exploiting studies of various molecular
systems under diverse
experimental conditions, can be correlated in a single mosaic.
Abstract:
Molecular beam experiments are reported for collisions between oxygen
molecules. Total integral cross sections have been measured as a
function of the collision energy and with the
control of molecular alignment.
The low collision energy (in the thermal and subthermal range), and the
high angular resolution permit observation
of the "glory" effect, manifestation of quantum-mechanical interferenc
e, which allows an accurate probe of intermolecular interactions.
This first complete experimental characterization of the interaction yi
elds a ground (singlet) state bond energy of
17.0 +- 0.8 meV for the most stable dimer geometry (the two oxygen m
olecules lying parallel at
a distance of 3.56 +- 0.07 A).
Also the splittings among the singlet, the triplet and the quintet surf
aces are obtained and a full representation of their
angular dependence is reported via a novel harmonic expansion function
al form for diatom-diatom interactions.
These results indicate that most of the bonding in the dimer comes from
van der Waals forces but chemical (spin-spin) contributions in
this open-shell--open-shell system are not negligible (~15 % of
the
van der Waals component of the interaction).
Abstract:
An intense and stable continuous beam of S atoms and SO radicals
is produced from a microwave discharge source operating in a SO2-He
mixture. The S-atom beam,
characterized by coupling mechanical velocity selection with magnetic
analysis and
detected by a quadrupole mass filter, has been employed in scattering
experiments.
The transmittance across a Stern-Gerlach magnetic selector,
measured mass-spectrometrically at m/e = 32 and 34 as a function of
the beam velocity
and of the deflecting field strength,
indicates that the sulfur atoms are mainly in their electronic
ground state 3Pj, with fine structure levels j=0,1,2 populated
according to their degeneracies. Total integral cross sections
for collisions of S (3Pj) atoms with Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe
have been
measured in the beam velocity range 1.0 - 2.4 Km/s.
The scattering data exhibit a glory interference effect with a quenching
in the amplitude of the glory
pattern which increases along the rare-gas series from Ne to Xe.
The results are analysed to yield a characterization of the spherical
and anisotropic components of the interaction, providing lengths
and strengths of the bonds
in the six low lying states of the rare-gas sulfides NeS, ArS, KrS
and XeS.
Abstract:
A variety of phenomena of apparently different nature can be
compacted and described within a unifying picture
by taking into account the role of the charge
transfer interaction.
Relevant information on this interaction is obtained by the
analysis of bond stabilization in halides, oxides, sulfides and ionic d
imers
of rare--gases. Most of this information comes from
recent molecular beam experiments: when combined with
the analysis of processes occurring at crossings between
covalent and ionic states in alkali halides it leads to
the characterization of the dependence of the charge--transfer
matrix element on basic physical properties of the interacting
partners. The magnitude of the coupling matrix element is
correlated to polarizabilities and charges. Its
exponential decreasing with the intermolecular distance
is given in terms of ionization potentials and electron affinities,
in the spirit of the study by Grice and
Herschbach [Mol. Phys., 1973, 27, 159.]
on the long-range configuration interaction of ionic and covalent
states.
A proper representation is obtained both for
the transition from van der Waals to chemical
bonds and for the behaviour of different
families of compounds, such as those of alkali halides and of
rare-gas protonated systems.
This paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor
Roger Grice (1941--1998).
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