Energy loss spectra for vibro-rotational molecular excitation in an impulsive spectator model

Inelastic collisions between ionized atoms and molecules within the energy range 1-25 eV (centre of mass system) are treated in an impulsive quantum-mechanical spectator model. The model allows extensive calculations of the energy distribution over the final rotational and vibrational states. Qualitative information on the dependence of these 'energy loss spectra' on the collision energy and on the scattering angle is obtained from numerical calculations, based on an idealized model of the system N 2 +Li + . Comparison is also made with experimental data for H 2 +H + scattering.