Quasi-classical rate coefficient calculations for the rotational (de)excitation of H₂O by H₂

Abstract

Context.The interpretation of water line emission from existing observations and future HIFI/Herschel data requires a detailed knowledge of collisional rate coefficients. Among all relevant collisional mechanisms, the rotational (de)excitation of H2O by H2 molecules is the process of most interest in interstellar space.