Dynamical constraints on the angular momentum transfer in rotationally inelastic molecular collisions

The rapid decrease in the integral inelastic cross sections, when rotational energy transfer Vertical BarΔEVertical Bar is greater than a critical value (Vertical BarΔEVertical Bar*), has been explained quantitatively for the systems CO2--H2, CO2--He, Na2--He, Na2--Ne, LiH--He, and N2--Ar on the basis of the model proposed by Dexheimer et al. An expression for Vertical BarΔEVertical Bar* has been obtained that shows the increase in Vertical BarΔEVertical Bar* with the increase in the reduced mass μ, initial rotational quantum number j/sub i/, and initial relative energy of the translational motion K/sub i/. The predictions of the model for CO2--X (X = Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) are also reported