Measurements of vibrational excitation of N2, CO, and NO by low energy proton impact

Abstract

Differential scattering experiments are reported for proton impact on N₂, CO, and NO in the energy range E_lab=30–80 eV. The measurements include the range of very small scattering angles around 0° as well as the rainbow region. The vibrationally resolved energy‐loss spectra show a relatively low vibrational inelasticity for all three systems. Differential cross sections, transition probabilities, and the mean vibrational energy transfer are presented. Rotational excitation is indicated by the broadening of the energy‐loss peaks which is most significant for H⁺–NO. The small‐angle scattering data for vibrational excitation in CO show good agreement with the impact parameter theory using the known long‐range interactions for this system.