The anisotropic interaction potential of D2Ne from state-to-state differential cross sections for rotational excitation

Differential cross sections for the rotational excitation from j=0 to j=2 of D2 scattered by Ne have been measured at an energy of E=84.9 meV. The experiments have been performed in a crossed nozzle beam apparatus with time-of-flight analysis of the scattered particles using the pseudorandom chopper method. A detailed analysis of the experimental data which are peaked in the backward direction showed that they are mainly sensitive to the repulsive part of the pure anisotropic potential. From a combined analysis of the state-to-state differential cross sections of the j=0 to j=0 and the j=0 to j=2 transition of D2+Ne and the j=0 to j=1 transition of HD+Ne previously measured, the complete potential energy surface for the hydrogen–neon system is obtained using the coupled states method. The anisotropic contribution varies from 37% of the isotropic part in the repulsive region (2.4 Å) to 12% in the attractive region (3.5 Å). The results differ from the other potential models derived for this system from calculations, spectroscopic studies, and bulk properties. However, it is in agreement with the results of a recently developed inversion method based on the exponential distorted wave approximation using the same experimental data.