We have recently coupled stimulated emision pumping (SEP) with velocity map imaging for the first time. This is employed in an intrabeam and near-co-propagaing beam scattering configuration to study state-to-state collision dynamics of highly vibrationally excited NO with argon at broadly tunable collision energies. This approach allows preparation of arbitrary initial quantum states and the low collision energy permits studies involving a limited range of initial partial waves. We show the broad temperature range gains sensitivity to the attractive part of the potential, while the initial state preparation gives control over differential cross sections for a single product state at a single collision energy. Furthermore, SEP allows preparation of spin-orbit excited NO in arbitrary initial rovibrational levels for studies of collision-induced spin-orbit relaxation. We have studied this superelastic scattering of spin-orbit excited NO(v=10) with argon from room temperature down to 1 K. These results are compared to quantum scattering calculations on coupled cluster and multi-reference potential energy surfaces. Disagreement among the theoretical results and with the experimental measurements show that the superelastic scattering collisions are a challenge for theory, especially at low energy.

Cold collisions of hot molecules: Differential cross sections for inelastic collisions of NO (v=10, Ω'', j'') from room temperature to 1 K

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.