POTENTIAL PARAMETERS AND ENERGY-DEPENDENCE OF ROTATIONAL ENERGY-TRANSFER IN MOLECULAR-SYSTEMS

The cross-sections for rotational transitions in a diatomic molecule d ue to collision with an atom were computed. An empirical relation is o btained that gives the dependence of cross-sections on the energy of t he colliding system and the parameters of the interaction potential en ergy surface. The results are interpreted to investigate the mechanism of the rotational energy transfer process. The cross-sections are fou nd to depend linearly on the torque, range of the potential, and the c ollision time. Depending on the variation in the location of classical turning point with change in energy, the cross-sections may increase or decrease with energy or cross-section versus energy curve may exhib it maxima or minima.