ROTATIONAL-EXCITATION IN 2-CENTER COULOMB-SCATTERING SYSTEMS - APPLICATION TO ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS

Rotational excitation in electron-diatomic-molecule collisions at inte rmediate collision energies (similar to 10(2) eV) is discussed within a quantum-mechanical two-center model using a Coulomb-scattering appro ximation. Rotational rainbow effects are discussed, in particular for heteronuclear diatomic molecules. The model is applied to collisional excitation of HCl and CO as well as to the homonuclear cases N-2 and C l-2. The model predictions are compared with recent experimental resul ts as well as with elaborate numerical computations for the homonuclea r systems.