Spin-orbit coupling in O2(v)+O2 collisions: a new energy transfer mechanism.
A reduced dimensionality model is used to study the relaxation of highly vibrationally excited O(2)(X (3)Sigma(g) (-),v>/=20) in collisions with O(2)(X (3)Sigma(g) (-),v=0). Spin-orbit coupled potential energy surfaces are employed to incorporate the vibrational-to-electronic energy transfer mechanism involving the O(2)(a (1)Delta(g)) and O(2)(b (1)Sigma(g) (+)) excited states. The transition probabilities obtained show a sharp increase for v>/=26 providing the first direct evidence of the important role played by the electronic energy transfer processes in the depletion of O(2)(X (3)Sigma(g) (-),v>/=26).
Instituto de Matemáticas y Física Fundamental, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Serrano 123, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
Fabrice
F
Dayou
José
J
Campos-Martinez
Marta I
MI
Hernández
Ramón
R
Hernández-Lamoneda