Rotational-Vibrational Excitation in Collisions of Atomic Ions with Diatomic Molecules.

Rotational vibrational excitation in atomic ion-diatomic molecule collisions are considered at intermediate ion projectile energies in the range of 1 - 3 keV. Collisions between He(+) and H2 are taken as an example. Three separate approaches are used in the description of the collision system. Inelastic energy transfer in collision systems and projectile scattering angle are calculated from a totally classical approach. Cross sections for scattering as a function of momentum transfer vector are calculated from a completely quantum mechanical approach. Molecular transitions from the ground rotational vibrational state to several excited rotational vibrational molecular states are considered.