APPLICATION OF ATOM-PHOTON COINCIDENCE TECHNIQUES TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL CROSS-SECTION FOR EXCITATION OF K(42P) IN LOW-ENERGY K-N2, CO COLLISIONS

The differential cross section for the process K(42S)+N2, CO→K(42P)+ N2, CO is presented for reduced scattering angles τ<2·104 eV deg. The inelastic process is identified by determining the time-correlation between the inelastically scattered potassium atom and the emitted K(42P→42S)photon. The performance of different coincidence techniques is compared. From the differential cross sections values for the position of the curve crossing responsible for the excitation process are derived (Rc=2.77, 2.48 Å and V(Rc)=0.55, 1.00 eV for K-N2, CO respectively). The values indicate that the lowest ionic intermediate state of the form K+-N2-, CO- is responsible for the excitation process. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.