Effects of an Attractive Well Potential on the Atom–Diatomic Molecule Collinear Collision

Abstract

The effect on the vibrational transition probability of an attractive well in the interaction potential for the collinear collision of an atom with a diatomic oscillator is investigated. Two forms of the potential are considered. For a square barrier potential, a square well introduces sharp resonances in the transition probability. It is shown that the position of these resonances may be predicted by a simple formula. For a ``soft'' Morse interaction potential no resonances are observed. It is shown in this case that the transition probability is determined more by the slope of the potential at the classical turning point than by the presence or absence of an attractive well.