Possibility of Extracting Anisotropy Parameters from the M Dependence of Total Cross-Section Measurements

The total cross section for the collision of an atom and a diatomic molecule (rigid rotor) initially in rotational state ${\mathrm{(J}}_a{\mathrm{,\; M}}_a)$ is computed to first order in the anisotropic part of the potential. The dependence of the cross section on the quantum number $M_a$ is examined, and it is seen that the anisotropy of the long‐range attractive part of the potential can be determined from the $M_a$ dependence of the average (average over glory oscillations) cross section, whereas the anisotropy of the short‐range repulsive part of the potential can be determined from the $M_a$ dependence of the glory oscillations.