Experimental observation of quantum interferences in CO-H$_2$ rotational energy transfer at room temperature
Abstract
Using time-resolved infrared-vacuum-ultraviolet double-resonance spectroscopy, experimental room temperature measurements of state-to-state rate coefficients for rotational energy transfer within the X vibrational state of CO due to H collisions have been compared to accurate 4-D close-coupling quantum calculations. Theoretically predicted quantum interferences in the CO-H collisional system are experimentally observed at room temperature, and excellent agreement between theory and experiment is observed. These results provide a valuable benchmark for validating the anisotropic part of the potential energy surface, thereby supporting the theoretical modeling of CO emission in warm astrophysical environments such as photodissociation regions.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2504.04403,
title = {Experimental observation of quantum interferences in CO-H$_2$ rotational energy transfer at room temperature},
author = {Hamza Labiad and Alexandre Faure and Ian R. Sims},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2504.04403},
year = {2026}
}