Effect of rotation on vibrational excitation of H₂ by Li⁺ impact

Coupled channel calculations of integral cross sections for rotational and vibrational excitation of H2(X1Σ+g by collision with Li+ are reported for 1.2 eV in the c.m. system employing an ab initio potential energy surface and numerical vibration-rotation functions of the Koo{combining short stroke overlay}s-Wolniewicz potential function including adiabatic correction. Pure rotational excitation is found to strongly dominate the inelastic scattering occurring at this energy. Preparation of H2 in various allowed non-zero rotational states is seen to enhance the 0 → 1 vibrational cross section by approximately an order of magnitude. © 1973.