Quantum dynamics of H$_2$-H$_2$ collisions

POSTER

Abstract

The H$_2-$H$_2$ system has long been considered as a benchmark candidate for quantum dynamics studies of molecule-molecule collisions. H$_2$ is the most abundant molecular species in the interstellar medium and rotational and vibrational transitions in collisions between H$_2$ molecules have been topics of considerable interest. Here, we present a full quantum mechanical treatment of collisions between ortho-ortho, para-para, and ortho-para H$_2$ molecules as well as the HD-H$_2$ system over a wide range of energies and for different initial rovibrational levels of the molecules. The computed rate constants are compared against available experimental data and previous theoretical results.

*This work is supported by NSF grants PHY-0855470 and ATM-0635715

Authors

  • Balakrishnan Naduvalath

    • Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada Las Vegas

  • Samantha Fonseca dos Santos

    • Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada Las Vegas

  • Stephen Lepp

    • Department of Physics, University of Nevada Las Vegas

  • Goulven Qu\'em\'ener

    • JILA, University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Robert C. Forrey

    • Department of Physics, Penn State University, Berks Campus

  • Phillip Stancil

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Center for Simulational Physics, The University of Georgia, Athens
    • University of Georgia