title: Rotationally inelastic scattering of methyl radicals with Ar and N2.
abstract: The rotationally inelastic scattering of methyl radical with Ar and N2 is examined at collision energies of 330 ± 25 cm(-1) and 425 ± 50 cm(-1), respectively. Differential cross sections (DCSs) were measured for different final n' rotational levels (up to n' = 5) of the methyl radicals, averaged over k' sub-levels, using a crossed molecular beam machine with velocity map imaging. For Ar as a collision partner, we present a newly constructed ab initio potential energy surface and quantum mechanical scattering calculations of state-resolved DCSs. These computed DCSs agree well with the measurements. The DCSs for both Ar and N2 collision partners are strongly forward peaked for all spectroscopic lines measured. For scattering angles below 60°, the theoretical CD3-Ar DCSs show diffraction oscillations that become less pronounced as n' increases, but these oscillations are not resolved experimentally. Comparisons are drawn with our recently reported DCSs for scattering of methyl radicals with He atoms.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ondřej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tkáč
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218-2685, USA.
authors.forename: Qianli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stei
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Orr-Ewing
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218-2685, USA.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dagdigian