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Physics, Chemical Physics, physics.chem-ph, Physics, Atomic Physics, physics.atom-ph
Abstract:
Whereas atom-molecule collisions have been studied with complete quantum
state resolution, interactions between two state-selected molecules have proven
much harder to probe. Here, we report the measurement of state-resolved
inelastic scattering cross sections for collisions between two open-shell
molecules that are both prepared in a single quantum state. Stark-decelerated
OH radicals were scattered with hexapole-focused NO radicals in a crossed beam
configuration. Rotationally and spin-orbit inelastic scattering cross sections
were measured on an absolute scale for collision energies between 70 and 300
cm⁻¹. These cross sections show fair agreement with quantum
coupled-channels calculations using a set of coupled model potential energy
surfaces based on ab initio calculations for the long-range non-adiabatic
interactions and a simplistic short-range interaction. This comparison reveals
the crucial role of electrostatic forces in complex molecular collision
processes.