Collisions of excited Na atoms with N2, C2H2 and N2O molecules.: Surface-hopping calculation of the Na(3p) fine structure population

The results of optical collision experiments: fine structure population ratios and polarization alignment angles obtained from scattering of Na atoms which are optically 3s --> 3p excited during the collision with N-2, C2H2 and N2O molecules, have been simulated numerically and analysed using quantum chemically computed potential energy surfaces, classical trajectory calculations and the semiclassical surface hopping method combined with a specially developed diabatization procedure.