Ion-dipole scattering in classical perturbation theory

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Abstract
The classical theory for scattering of ions by dipolar molecules is derived in the perturbation limit applicable at high translational energy and small scattering angles. In this approximation the differential cross section and the dependence of the rotational excitation energy on kinetic energy, impact parameter, and orientation of the dipole are given by simple analytic expressions, and the orientation‐averaged quantities of interest for comparison with experiment are easily calculated. The range of validity for this treatment is explored by comparison of the results with those obtained by a less restricted impact‐parameter method and by direct numerical integration of the full classical equations of motion.