Inelastic scattering of NO(2Π) with atomic and molecular colliders. Rotational and fine-structure excitations

The inelastic collisions of NO (Trot ⩽ 5 K) with Ar, Xe, CO, N2, O2, N2O and CO2 were studied in molecular beams at center-of-mass collision energies 750–2500 cm−1. Rotational, Λ-doublet and spin-orbit distributions of scattered NO(2Π1232) were determined. In all the scattering experiments (with the possible exception of Ar) no preferences wer observed in the Λ-doublet populations. The rotational distributions all appear Boltzmann-like, with somewhat different rotational temperatures. The populations of the 2Π12 and 2Π32 spin-orbit states depend on the nature of the collider, but do not show any clear relationship with the extent of rotational excitation. No evidence of long-range attractive interactions is revealed in any of the systems studied.