Quantum Transition Probabilities for Diatomic–Diatomic Molecule Collisions

Abstract

The method of Shuler and Zwanzig is used to calculate quantum transition probabilities between vibration levels of colliding diatomic molecules. The molecules are assumed to have harmonic bond potentials, the intermolecular interaction is taken to be impulsive, and only collinear configurations are investigated. Vibration–vibration transfer is found to be a quite significant mode of energy transfer, and it is apparently not sensitive to the degree of close matching of the vibration frequencies of the colliding molecules. It is suspected that this insensitivity may be due to the impulsive collision model used.