The Calculation and Measurement of Cross Sections for Rotational and Vibrational Excitation

Abstract

A review is presented of the conversion of translational into internal rotational and vibrational energy given by: A + BC(j/sub i/, m/sub i/, n/sub i/) ..-->.. A + BC(j/sub f/, m/sub f/, n/sub f/) +- ..delta..E where A is a ground state atom, another molecule--considered to be structureless--or an ion, and BC is usually a diatomic molecule with rotational quantum states j and m and vibrational state n; i and f denote initial and final states, respectively, and ..delta..E denotes the change in relative translational energy. 4 figures, 4 tables, 341 references (GHT)