Rotational excitation and de-excitation of CH+ molecules by 4He atoms

Abstract

We present a quantum mechanical investigation of rotational energy transfer in cold collisions of CH+ with 4He atoms. We use a global 3D potential energy surface obtained using the reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) method. Rotational deactivation transition cross-sections are performed for collision energy ranging from 10-6 to 3000 cm-1 and the corresponding rotational deactivation and excitation rate coefficients are evaluated for the transitions of levels up to j = 5 and temperatures up to 500 K. We also discuss the validity of the rigid rotor approximation for this collision. © ESO, 2010.