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Vibrational energy transfer in ultracold molecule-molecule collisions

TitleVibrational energy transfer in ultracold molecule-molecule collisions
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsQuemener, G, Balakrishnan, N, Krems, RV
JournalPHYSICAL REVIEW A
Volume77
Pagination030704
Date PublishedMAR
ISSN1050-2947
Abstract

We present a rigorous study of vibrational relaxation in para-H-2 + para-H-2 collisions at cold and ultracold temperatures and identify an efficient mechanism of rovibrational energy transfer. If the colliding molecules are in different rotational and vibrational levels, the internal energy may be transferred between the molecules through an extremely state-selective process involving simultaneous conservation of internal energy and total rotational angular momentum. The same transition in collisions of distinguishable molecules corresponds to the rotational energy transfer from one vibrational state of the colliding molecules to another.

DOI10.1103/PhysRevA.77.030704