Collisional energy transfer probabilities of highly excited molecules fromkinetically controlled selective ionization (KCSI). II. The collisional relaxation of toluene: P(E ',E) and moments of energy transfer for energies up to 50 000 cm(-1)

Complete and detailed experimental transition probability density functions P(E',E) have been determined for the first time for collisions between a l arge, highly vibrationally excited molecule, toluene, and several bath gase s. This was achieved by applying the method of kinetically controlled selec tive ionization (KCSI) (Paper I [J. Chem. Phys. 112, 4076 (2000), preceding article]). An optimum P(E-',E) representation is recommended (monoexponent ial with a parametric exponent in the argument) which uses only three param eters and features a smooth behavior of all parameters for the entire set o f bath gases. In helium, argon, and CO2 the P(E-',E) show relatively increa sed amplitudes in the wings-large energy gaps \E'-E\-which can also be repr esented by a biexponential form. The fractional contribution of the second exponent in these biexponentials, which is directly related to the fraction of the so-called "supercollisions," is found to be very small (< 0.1%). Fo r larger colliders the second term disappears completely and the wings of P (E-',E) have an even smaller amplitude than that provided by a monoexponent ial form. At such low levels, the second exponent is therefore of practical ly no relevance for the overall energy relaxation rate. All optimized P(E-' ,E) representations show a marked linear energetic dependence of the (weak) collision parameter alpha(1)(E), which also results in an (approximately) linear dependence of <Delta E > and of the square root of <Delta E-2>. The energy transfer parameters presented in this study form a new benchmark cla ss in certainty and accuracy, e.g., with only 2%-7% uncertainty for our <De lta E > data below 25 000 cm(-1). They should also form a reliable testgrou nd for future trajectory calculations and theories describing collisional e nergy transfer of polyatomic molecules. (C) 2000 American Institute of Phys ics. [S0021-9606(00)01604-4].