Molecular beam scattering experiments with polar molecules: measurement of differential collision cross sections for H₂O+H₂, He, Ne, Ar, H₂O and NH₃+H₂, He, NH₃

Abstract

Differential scattering cross section experiments are reported in which one or both of the scattering partners is a polar molecule. The well resolved diffractive oscillations for H2O+H2, He, Ne and NH3+H2, He and the rainbow maximum observed for H2O+Ar permit the determination of the potential parameters, epsilon , the well depth, and sigma , the zero position for an assumed Lennard-Jones (12,6) potential. The cross sections for H2O+H2O and NH3+NH3 exhibit no diffraction oscillations but the general slope of the cross section permits an estimate of the well depth, epsilon .