Microwave Collision Diameters II. Theory and Correlation with Molecular Quadrupole Moments

Abstract

Observed microwave collision diameters are interpreted as arising exclusively from transitions induced during the collision. Collision diameters greater than kinetic theory values arise from dipole-dipole or dipole-quadrupole interactions. The former case affords a quantitative test of the theory. In the latter case measurements of collision diameters yield quadrupole moment measurements which are correlated with molecular structure.