Inversion-symmetry-changing atom-atom collisions

Abstract

Slow collisions of different isotopes of the same species are considered. The adiabatic representation of wave functions is used. There is no restriction to inversion-symmetry-conserving collisions because of the isotopic difference. Such parity-changing collisions are considered and, since levels of different parity can cross, it is shown that the cross sections may be large. The "switching functions," previously used, are shown to play an important role in this reaction and their interpretation is discussed.