Observation of halos in rotationally inelastic scattering of Na2 from Ar

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Abstract
We have measured level to level differential cross sections for rotational level changing collisions in ground state Na2 with Ar: Na2 (v\=0, ji=7)+Ar→Na2 (v\=0, jf)+Ar. Measurements range in Δj(jf−ji) from −4 to 80 and in Θ to π. A seeded supersonic beam source produces rotationally cold Na2 with a narrow velocity distribution; the levels are isolated and the differential cross sections are measured with cw dye lasers, using a new technique, angular distributions using the Doppler shift. The differential cross sections display a sharp rise and slow decline, reaching a maximum at an angle which is roughly proportional to Δj. We term these features ’’halos’’. (AIP)