Central-field intermolecular potentials from the differential elastic scattering of H2(D2) by other molecules

Abstract

Differential elastic scattering cross sections for the systems H₂+ O₂, SF₆, NH₃, CO, and CH₄ and for D₂+ O₂, SF₆, and NH₃ have been obtained from crossed beam studies. In all cases, rapid quantum oscillations have been resolved which permit the determination of intermolecular potential parameters if a central-field assumption is adopted. These potentials were found to be independent of both the isotopic form of the hydrogen molecule, and the relative collision energy. As a result of this, and the ability of these spherical potentials quantitatively to describe the measured scattering, it is concluded that anisotropy effects do not seem to be important in these H₂(D₂) systems.