Hydrogen–atom scattering: Energy dependence of the total collision cross section for mercury

Abstract

Total collision cross sections for scattering of H and D atoms from Hg in the energy range 10−5–10−1 a.u. (3×10−4–3 eV) are calculated for an accurate Rydberg–Klein–Rees (RKR) potential based on isotopically‐combined spectroscopic data for HgH, HgD, and HgT. Comparison is made with two sets of experiments, a subthermal energy (5×10−3–0.2 eV) study by the Genoa group, and a superthermal energy (0.14–1.7 eV) study at Harvard. The glory oscillations found in both studies and the orbiting resonances found in the subthermal experiments are in good agreement with the calculated cross sections.