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We investigate the contribution of inelastic electron collisions to nonlinear (NL) dynamics in ultraviolet plasmonic nanoparticles, exploring their potential for harmonic generation. Employing the Landau weak coupling formalism to model radiation-driven electron dynamics in sodium and aluminum, we account for both electron–electron and electron–phonon scattering processes by a set of hydrodynamic equations, which we solve perturbatively to obtain third-order NL susceptibilities. Furthermore, we model high harmonic generation enhanced by localized surface plasmons in nanospheres composed of such poor metals, demonstrating their efficient operation for extreme ultraviolet generation. Our investigation reveals that plasmonic nanospheres composed of sodium and aluminum produce a large field intensity enhancement of ≃103–105, boosting the harmonic generation process. Our findings indicate that poor metals hold great promise for advanced extreme ultraviolet nano-sources with potential applications in nano-spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rotational relaxation of CO2 by inelastic collisions has been studied in three supersonic jets. The jets were probed by means of Raman spectroscopy with high spectral and spatial resolutions, measuring the rotational populations and the total number density. The time evolution of the rotational populations was analyzed by means of a kinetic master equation, with the help of the energy-corrected sudden power law to relate the numerous state-to-state rate (STS rates) coefficients. In the thermal range investigated, 60–260 K, the STS rates decrease with increasing temperature and with increasing change in the rotational quantum number. Other quantities of interest for fluid dynamics, such as the rotational collision number, the relaxation cross section, and the bulk viscosity, have been derived from the STS rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling environments that are not in local thermal equilibrium, such as protoplanetary disks or planetary atmospheres, with molecular spectroscopic data from space telescopes requires knowledge of the rate coefficients of rovibrationally inelastic molecular collisions. Here, we present such rate coefficients in a temperature range from 10 to 500 K for collisions of CO2 with He atoms in which CO2 is (de)excited in the bend mode. They are obtained from numerically exact coupled-channel (CC) calculations as well as from calculations with the less demanding coupled-states approximation (CSA) and the vibrational close-coupling rotational infinite-order sudden (VCC-IOS) method. All of the calculations are based on a newly calculated accurate ab initio four-dimensional CO2–He potential surface including the CO2 bend (ν2) mode. We find that the rovibrationally inelastic collision cross sections and rate coefficients from the CSA and VCC-IOS calculations agree to within 50% with the CC results at the rotational state-to-state level, except for the smaller ones and in the low energy resonance region, and to within 20% for the overall vibrational quenching rates except for temperatures below 50 K where resonances provide a substantial contribution. Our CC quenching rates agree with the most recent experimental data within the error bars. We also compared our results with data from Clary et al. calculated in the 1980s with the CSA [A. J. Banks and D. C. Clary, J. Chem. Phys. 86, 802 (1987)] and VCC-IOS [D. C. Clary, J. Chem. Phys. 78, 4915 (1983)] methods and a simple atom-atom model potential based on ab initio Hartree–Fock calculations and found that their cross sections agree fairly well with ours for collision energies above 500 cm−1, but that the inclusion of long range attractive dispersion interactions is crucial to obtain reliable cross sections at lower energies and rate coefficients at lower temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propargyl cation, H2CCCH+, is a crucial hydrocarbon precursor in the chemical evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM). It serves as a key intermediate for understanding ISM hydrocarbon chemistry. This work presents state-to-state collisional rate coefficients for rotational excitation and de-excitation of ortho- and para- H2CCCH+ colliding with He at ISM-relevant temperatures (T  ≤ 60 K). We employed a high-level post-Hartree-Fock CCSD(T)-F12/aug-cc-pVTZ method to generate a 3D interaction potential energy surface (3D-PES) for the weakly bound H2CCCH+-He complex. The analytical 3D-PES was then used in close-coupling calculations to determine cross-sections for rotational excitation and de-excitation of ortho- and para- H2CCCH+ by collisions with He for kinetic energies (Ek) up to 300 cm−1. Inelastic collision rate coefficients were subsequently obtained by thermally averaging the cross-sections over a Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution of kinetic energies. Our results indicate that at very low temperatures (T  < 15 K), rotational transitions associated with Δj = Δkc = ±1, which are crucial for the identification of H2CCCH+ in astronomical surveys, exhibit the largest cross-sections. In contrast, at higher temperatures, transitions with Δj = Δkc = ±2 become more dominant. These data hold significant implications for the determination of the H2CCCH+ abundance in the ISM and improve the modelling of interstellar hydrocarbon-chain reaction pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic imbalance is one of the primary issues in rotary compressor applications, which can generate significant vibration. A dynamic balance design is required to minimize the moment and additional inertia force, which can be eliminated by adding a counterweight. This paper utilized a solid plate that has cavities filled with particle damper as a novel design to satisfy the dynamic balance. Vibrational energy is dissipated in collisions between particles through momentum exchange and is converted into energy for consumption that consists of inelastic collision energy and frictional energy. The discrete element method (DEM) and multi-body dynamics (MBD) were applied for two-way coupling for a dynamic balance simulation. The impact of particle size, friction coefficient, and restitution coefficient on energy dissipation in rotary compressors was evaluated, and the particle radius of 1 mm produced the most satisfactory. The experiment measured the vibrational acceleration in the tangential and radial directions at a particular duration and frequency to reflect the particle damper's dynamic balance and energy dissipation effect. Both simulation and experimental results confirmed that the novel design features are more acceptable than the original to satisfy the dynamic balance of a rotary compressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a system of fractional nonlinear Schrödinger equations (FNLSEs) which model the copropagation of optical waves carried by different wavelengths or mutually orthogonal circular polarizations in fiber‐laser cavities with the effective fractional group‐velocity dispersion (FGVD), which were recently made available to the experiment. In the FNLSE system, the FGVD terms are represented by the Riesz derivative, with the respective Lévy index (LI). The FNLSEs, which include the self‐phase‐modulation (SPM) nonlinearity, are coupled by the cross‐phase‐modulation (XPM) terms, and separated by a group‐velocity (GV) mismatch (rapidity). By means of systematic simulations, we analyze collisions and bound states of solitons in the XPM‐coupled system, varying the LI and GV mismatch. Outcomes of collisions between the solitons include rebound, conversion of the colliding single‐component solitons into a pair of two‐component ones, merger of the solitons into a breather, their mutual passage leading to excitation of intrinsic vibrations, and the elastic interaction. Families of stable two‐component soliton bound states are constructed too, featuring a rapidity which is intermediate between those of the two components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel formulation of the electron energy relaxation terms is presented here, which is applicable to plasma flows and discharges wherein the electron temperature could be higher or lower than the gas temperature. It is demonstrated that the electron energy losses due to inelastic collisions can be expressed as a function of only two species-dependent parameters: the reduced electric field and the reduced electron mobility. This formulation is advantageous over previous ones, being simpler to implement and more accurate when experimental data of the reduced electric field and reduced mobility are available. Curve fits to empirical data of these two properties are outlined here for all important air molecular species. The approach accounts for all inelastic electron energy relaxation processes without needing individual cross sections or rates, reducing potential errors associated with independently handling each process. Several test cases are presented to validate the proposed electron energy source terms including reentry plasma flows for which the electron temperature is less than the gas temperature, as well as discharges in which the electron temperature reaches values in excess of 30 eV. In all cases, the agreement with experimental data is observed to be very good to excellent, significantly surpassing prior electron energy models for plasma flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Brownian vibrators, we investigated the structures and dynamics of quasi-2d granular materials, with packing fractions (ϕ) ranging from 0.111 to 0.832. Our observations revealed a remarkable large-scale flocking behavior in hard granular disk systems, encompassing four distinct phases: granular fluid, flocking fluid, poly-crystal, and crystal. Anomalous flocking emerges at ϕ = 0.317, coinciding with a peak in local density fluctuations, and ceased at ϕ = 0.713 as the system transitioned into a poly-crystal state. The poly-crystal and crystal phases resembled equilibrium hard disks, while the granular and flocking fluids differed significantly from equilibrium systems and previous experiments involving uniformly driven spheres. This disparity suggests that collective motion arises from a competition controlled by volume fraction, involving an active force and an effective attractive interaction resulting from inelastic particle collisions. Remarkably, these findings align with recent theoretical research on the flocking motion of spherical active particles without alignment mechanisms. An experimental method is needed to measure the effective interparticle attraction resulting from inelastic collisions for a quantitative study of non-equilibrium systems. In this study, the authors report the large-scale collective motion of non-polar particles and identify the phase transition point between the granular fluid phase and the collective fluid phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. One of the main problems in astrochemistry is determining the amount of sulfur in volatiles and refractories in the interstellar medium. The detection of the main sulfur reservoirs (icy H2S and atomic gas) has been challenging, and estimates are based on the reliability of models to account for the abundances of species containing less than 1% of the total sulfur. The high sensitivity of the James Webb Space Telescope provides an unprecedented opportunity to estimate the sulfur abundance through the observation of the [S I] 25.249 µm line. Aims. Our aim is to determine the amount of sulfur in the ionized and warm molecular phases toward the Orion Bar as a template to investigate sulfur depletion in the transition between the ionized gas and the molecular cloud in HII regions. Methods. We used the [S III] 18.7 µm, [S IV] 10.5 µm, and [S l] 25.249 µm lines to estimate the amount of sulfur in the ionized and molecular gas along the Orion Bar. For the theoretical part, we used an upgraded version of the Meudon photodissociation region (PDR) code to model the observations. New inelastic collision rates of neutral atomic sulfur with ortho-and para- molecular hydrogen were calculated to predict the line intensities. Results. The [S III] 18.7 µm and [S IV] 10.5 µm lines are detected over the imaged region with a shallow increase (by a factor of 4) toward the HII region. This suggests that their emissions are partially coming from the Orion Veil. We estimate a moderate sulfur depletion, by a factor of ~2, in the ionized gas. The corrugated interface between the molecular and atomic phases gives rise to several edge-on dissociation fronts we refer to as DF1, DF2, and DF3. The [S l] 25.249 µm line is only detected toward DF2 and DF3, the dissociation fronts located farthest from the HII region. This is the first ever detection of the [S l] 25.249 µm line in a PDR. The detailed modeling of DF3 using the Meudon PDR code shows that the emission of the [S l] 25.249 µm line is coming from warm (>40 K) molecular gas located at AV ~1–5 mag from the ionization front. Moreover, the intensity of the [S l] 25.249 µm line is only accounted for if we assume the presence of undepleted sulfur. Conclusions. Our data show that sulfur remains undepleted along the ionic, atomic, and molecular gas in the Orion Bar. This is consistent with recent findings that suggest that sulfur depletion is low in massive star-forming regions because of the interaction of the UV photons coming from the newly formed stars with the interstellar matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a variant of the Smoluchowski coagulation equation as a kinetic equation with both position and velocity variables, which arises as the scaling limit of a system of second-order microscopic coagulating particles. We focus on the rigorous study of the PDE system in the spatially homogeneous case, proving existence and uniqueness under different initial conditions in suitable weighted spaces, investigating also the regularity of such solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As shown by W. H. Miller in a seminal article [J. Chem. Phys. 53, 3578 (1970)], the most convenient and accurate semiclassical (SC) theory of molecular scattering in action-angle coordinates is based on the initial value representation (IVR) and the use of shifted angles, which are different from the natural angles usually used in the quantum and classical treatments. Here, we show for an inelastic molecular collision that the initial and final shifted angles define three-segment classical paths that are exactly those involved in the classical-limit of Tannor–Weeks quantum scattering theory [J. Chem. Phys. 98, 3884 (1993)], provided that the translational wave packets |g+⟩ and |g−⟩ into play in this theory are both taken at |0⟩. Assuming this to be the case, using van Vleck propagators, and applying the stationary phase approximation, Miller's SCIVR expression of S-matrix elements is found, with an additional cut-off factor canceling the energetically forbidden transition probabilities. This factor, however, is close to unity in most practical cases. Furthermore, these developments show that the Møller operators underlie Miller's formulation, thus confirming, for molecular collisions, the results recently established in the simpler case of light-induced rotational transitions [L. Bonnet, J. Chem. Phys. 153, 174102 (2020)]. Last but not least, we show, based on the previous results, that for processes involving long-range anisotropic forces, implementing the Skinner–Miller method [Chem. Phys. Lett. 300, 20 (1999)] in shifted coordinates makes its predictions both easier and more accurate than in natural coordinates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cesium vapor thermionic converters are an attractive method of converting high-temperature heat directly to electricity, but theoretical descriptions of the systems have been difficult due to the multi-step ionization of Cs through inelastic electron–neutral collisions. This work presents particle-in-cell simulations of these converters, using a direct simulation Monte Carlo collision model to track 52 excited states of Cs. These simulations show the dominant role of multi-step ionization, which also varies significantly based on both the applied voltage bias and pressure. The electron energy distribution functions are shown to be highly non-Maxwellian in the cases analyzed here. A comparison with previous approaches is presented, and large differences are found in ionization rates due especially to the fact that previous approaches have assumed Maxwellian electron distributions. Finally, an open question regarding the nature of the plasma sheaths in the obstructed regime is discussed. The one-dimensional simulations did not produce stable obstructed regime operation and thereby do not support the double-sheath hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have critically reviewed the literature pertaining to reactions that are significant for the chemistry of hydrogen-, deuterium-, and helium-bearing species in the homogeneous early Universe. For each reaction rate coefficient, we provide a fit in the modified-Arrhenius form, specifying the corresponding uncertainty and temperature range. This new network, limited to 21 reactions, should be the most reliable to date. Combined with accurate state-to-state rate coefficients for inelastic and reactive collisions involving H2 and HD, it allows us for the first time to follow the evolution of the abundances of atomic and molecular species, level populations of H2 and HD, and the ortho:para ratio (OPR) of H2, in a self-consistent fashion during the adiabatic expansion of the universe. The abundances of H2 and HD change only marginally compared to previous models, indicating that the uncertainties on the main reaction rate coefficients have essentially been removed. We also find that the adiabatic expansion has a dramatic effect on the OPR of H2, which freezes-out at redshifts z ≲ 50. In contrast, at higher redshifts, the populations of the rotational levels of H2 and HD are predicted to be fully thermalized at the temperature of the cosmic background radiation field, a result that conflicts with some recent, independent calculations. This new network allows the chemistry of primordial gas to be followed during the early phase of collapse towards Population III star progenitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar partially ionized plasma is frequently modelled using single-fluid (1F) or two-fluid (2F) approaches. In the 1F case, charge-neutral interactions are often described through ambipolar diffusion, while the 2F model fully considers charge-neutral drifts. Here, we expand the definition of the ambipolar diffusion coefficient to include inelastic collisions (ion/rec) in two cases: a VAL3C one-dimensional model and a 2F simulation of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI) in a solar prominence thread based on [Lukin et al. 2024 Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A382, 20230417. (doi:10.1098/rsta.2023.0417)]. On one side, we evaluate the relative importance of the inelastic contribution, compared to elastic and charge-exchange collisions. On the other side, we compare the contributions of ion/rec, thermal pressure, viscosity and magnetic forces to the charge-neutral drift velocity of the turbulent flow of the RTI. Our analysis reveals that the contribution of inelastic collisions to the ambipolar diffusion coefficient is negligible across the chromosphere, allowing the classical definition of this coefficient to be safely used in 1F modelling. However, in the transition region, the contribution of inelastic collisions can become as significant as that of elastic collisions. Furthermore, we ascertain that the thermal pressure force predominantly influences the charge-neutral drifts in the RTI model, surpassing the impact of the magnetic force. This article is part of the theme issue 'Partially ionized plasma of the solar atmosphere: recent advances and future pathways'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the high vibrational states of Na2 were excited via stimulated emission pumping. The full-state resolution distribution of molecular scattering of CO2(0000, J), resulting from collisions with excited Na2 X¹ Σ+g (v'= 33 and 45), was also investigated. In particular, the scattered CO2(0000, J = 2–80) molecules were found to possess a biexponential rotational distribution. The low- and high-energy distributions were derived by fitting the data by means of a biexponential model. The cold distribution accounted for 80% of the total scattering and was caused by elastic or weakly inelastic collisions. Such collisions might have caused very small rotational excitations in CO2. The hot distribution involved substantial changes in the rotational energy of CO2 and accounted for 20% of the total amount of collisions. The influence of the donor energy on the rotational distribution was shown to be very large; however, for the two types of donor energies, the branches associated with inelastic and elastic collision rates were the same. The nascent translational energy curves for scattered CO2(0000, J = 56–80) were measured via high-resolution transient overtone fluorescence. For every 25% enhancement in donor vibrational energy, the product translational energy of an individual J-state increased by 60%. Additionally, the measured collision rates were found to be weakly dependent on the donor energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space‐based observations of the signatures associated with STEVE show how this phenomenon might be closely related to an extreme version of a SAID channel. Measurements show high velocities (>4 km/s), high temperatures (>4,000 K), and very large current density drivers (up to 1 μA/m2). This phenomena happens in a small range of latitudes, less than a degree, but with a large longitudinal span. In this study, we utilize the GEMINI model to simulate an extreme SAID/STEVE. We assume a FAC density coming from the magnetosphere as the main driver, allowing all other parameters to adjust accordingly. We have two main objectives with this work: show how an extreme SAID can have velocity values comparable or larger than the ones measured under STEVE, and to display the limitations and missing physics that arise due to the extreme values of temperature and velocity. Changes had to be made to GEMINI due to the extreme conditions, particularly some neutral‐collision frequencies. The importance of the temperature threshold at which some collision frequencies go outside their respective bounds, as well as significance of the energies that would cause inelastic collisions and impact ionization are displayed and discussed. We illustrate complex structures and behaviors, emphasizing the importance of 3D simulations in capturing these phenomena. Longitudinal structure is emphasized, as the channel develops differently depending on MLT. However, these simulations should be viewed as approximations due to the limited observations available to constrain the model inputs and the assumptions made to achieve sensible results. Key Points: We present a full 4D (3D + time) simulation of an extreme SAIDWe utilize the GEMINI model for the simulation due to the practicality and easiness to set arbitrary input files. Though challenges remainWe highlight the importance of inelastic collisions and impact ionization on damping the channel velocity, physics not included in GEMINI [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the high vibrational states of Na2 were excited via stimulated emission pumping. The full-state resolution distribution of molecular scattering of CO2(0000, J), resulting from collisions with excited Na2 X¹ Σ+g (v'= 33 and 45), was also investigated. In particular, the scattered CO2(0000, J = 2–80) molecules were found to possess a biexponential rotational distribution. The low- and high-energy distributions were derived by fitting the data by means of a biexponential model. The cold distribution accounted for 80% of the total scattering and was caused by elastic or weakly inelastic collisions. Such collisions might have caused very small rotational excitations in CO2. The hot distribution involved substantial changes in the rotational energy of CO2 and accounted for 20% of the total amount of collisions. The influence of the donor energy on the rotational distribution was shown to be very large; however, for the two types of donor energies, the branches associated with inelastic and elastic collision rates were the same. The nascent translational energy curves for scattered CO2(0000, J = 56–80) were measured via high-resolution transient overtone fluorescence. For every 25% enhancement in donor vibrational energy, the product translational energy of an individual J-state increased by 60%. Additionally, the measured collision rates were found to be weakly dependent on the donor energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granular gases demand models capable of capturing their distinct characteristics. The widely employed inelastic hard-sphere model (IHSM) introduces complexities that are compounded when incorporating realistic features like surface roughness and rotational degrees of freedom, resulting in the more intricate inelastic rough hard-sphere model (IRHSM). This paper focuses on the inelastic rough Maxwell model (IRMM), presenting a more tractable alternative to the IRHSM and enabling exact solutions. Building on the foundation of the inelastic Maxwell model (IMM) applied to granular gases, the IRMM extends the mathematical representation to encompass surface roughness and rotational degrees of freedom. The primary objective is to provide exact expressions for the Navier–Stokes–Fourier transport coefficients within the IRMM, including the shear and bulk viscosities, the thermal and diffusive heat conductivities, and the cooling-rate transport coefficient. In contrast to earlier approximations in the IRHSM, our study unveils inherent couplings, such as shear viscosity to spin viscosity and heat conductivities to counterparts associated with a torque-vorticity vector. These exact findings provide valuable insights into refining the Sonine approximation applied to the IRHSM, contributing to a deeper understanding of the transport properties in granular gases with realistic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important areas of plasma physics is the physics of elementary processes, that is, the physics of processes occurring during collisions of molecules, atoms, ions, electrons and photons. The composition of plasma, its thermodynamic, transport, optical and other properties are determined by the processes occurring in the plasma system, as well as their speeds. For this reason, by analyzing collision processes, it is possible to investigate certain properties of the plasma. Traditionally, the study of elementary processes within a specific model begins with the study of the scattering cross section, when the first estimates are made using simple methods. These methods include the Born method, which can and should be applied in practice. In this work, studies were carried out of the influence of collective effects in plasma on the states and energies of hydrogen atoms and hydrogen-like ions, as well as on excitation processes. Quantum mechanics methods were used in the research process, including the variational method and the perturbation theory, especially the Born approximation for inelastic scattering processes. As a result of the work, data were obtained based on the Born approximation for the process of excitation of a hydrogen atom by electron impact. The Born approximation shows better results in the case of high-energy collisions. The results obtained during the study have scientific and experimental significance, since they make it possible to determine the velocity coefficients through the calculation of scattering cross sections. These coefficients, in turn, are necessary to solve the kinetic equation used to describe the sedimentation (concentration) of particles in the plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the development and verification of a Monte Carlo binary collision model for simulating elastic and inelastic collisions in particle-in-cell simulations. We apply the corrected binary collision model originally developed for charged-particles collisions to all considered scattering channels, including Coulomb collisions, elastic neutral–neutral and charged–neutral collisions, ionization, excitation, and fusion. The model's implementation is described and verified through a series of simulations, including charged- and neutral-particle thermal equilibration, slowing of electrons in warm solid-density aluminum, collisional damping of a Langmuir wave, helium gas breakdown in an applied electric field, and thermonuclear and beam–target fusion. Then, we demonstrate the model within simulations of hydrogen plasma formation in the Princeton Field-Reversed Configuration as well as of the burning of aneutronic fusion fuel p-11B. The latter includes measurement of the fusion power density in a low-density plasma and fusion production due to the stopping of a proton ignitor beam in a compressed boron target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the full quantum calculations of the spectral line shape parameters for the P(22) line of 13CO and the P(31) line of 12CO in the fundamental band perturbed by He or Ar from 20 to 1000 K for the first time. The generalized spectroscopic cross sections of CO–He/Ar indicate that the Dicke narrowing effect competes with the pressure broadening effect. The pressure broadening can be explained by the dynamic behaviors of intermolecular collisions. The intermolecular inelastic collisions contribute more than 95% to the pressure broadening in both CO–He and CO–Ar systems at high temperatures. Regarding the state-to-state inelastic contributions to pressure broadening, the maximum contribution out of the final state of a given line is close to that out of the initial state. The Dicke narrowing effect influences the line shape profile significantly at high temperatures, which suggests that it is indispensable for reproducing the spectral line profile. With the Dicke narrowing effect, the calculated pressure-broadening coefficients and spectral intensity distribution are in good agreement with the available experimental observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the rigorous time-independent close-coupling approach is ideally suited for cold and ultracold rovibrationally inelastic collision, its application beyond atom–diatom systems in full dimensionality is numerically expensive. Coupled-states (CS) approximation and its extensions are good choices to reduce the computational cost and have been successfully applied to diatom–diatom systems. In this work, we introduce the extended CS (ECS) approximation, in which one or a few nearest Coriolis coupled helicity channels are included. Its usefulness in atom–triatom systems is demonstrated for scattering of H2O with rare gas atoms. The results show that the ECS approximation, even when only the nearest neighbors are included, is generally much better than the CS approximation in describing scattering. At low collision energies, the ECS gradually converges to the exact results with the increasing number of Coriolis coupled helicity blocks. We further discuss three major factors that may lead to the failure of the CS approximation, namely, the reduced mass, collision energy, and triatomic rotational quantum number. It is illustrated that these factors could impact the relative importance of off-diagonal matrix elements in the Hamiltonian, thus influencing the coupling between different helicity channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State-to-state cross sections and rate coefficients for transitions between rotational/fine-structure levels of OH(X2Π) induced by collisions with atomic hydrogen are reported in this work. The scattering calculations take into account the full open-shell character of the OH + H system and include the four potential energy surfaces (1A′, 1A″, 3A′, 3A″) that correlate with the OH(X2Π) + H(2S) asymptote. Three of these surfaces are repulsive, while the deep H2O well is present on one surface (1A′). The OH + H potential energy curves calculated by Alexander et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 121, 5221 (2004)] are employed in this work. Time independent quantum scattering calculations were performed using the quantum statistical method of Rackham and co-workers [Chem. Phys. Lett. 343, 356 (2001)] because of the presence of the deep H2O well. The computed cross sections include contributions from direct scattering, as well formation and decay of a transient collision complex since the transient HO–H complex is expected to decay nonreactively. Rate coefficients for OH–H inelastic collisions are of interest for astrophysical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an improved parallel pure meshless algorithm coupling with a high-order time split-step (HSS-IPFPM) is firstly developed to solve the multi-dimensional GPEs, and then the IPFPM is extended to investigate the multi-components CH equations on irregular domain. The proposed meshless method is mainly derived with three points: (a) a fourth-order time-splitting technique is adopted to decompose GPEs, and the high-order derivative is divided into multi-order derivatives; (b) the spatial derivatives are approximated by the Finite Pointset method (FPM) based on the Taylor expansion and weighted least square; (c) the MPI (Message Passing Interface) parallel technique is adopted to reduce the computational cost. Subsequently, the numerical stability and error estimation of the present method are discussed, and the convergent rate and calculated computation of the parallel algorithm are demonstrated by solving four examples. Then the present method is extended to predict inelastic collisions or quantum vortices in GPEs, and phase separation process in multi-component CH. Meanwhile, the merit of easy to implement non-uniformly distributed in the proposed meshless method is illustrated. Finally, the 2D/3D phase separation phenomena in irregular domain are numerically investigated to further demonstrate the capability and applicability of the proposed parallel meshless algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the sustained rise in satellite deployment in Low Earth Orbits, the collision risk from untracked space debris is also increasing. Often small-sized space debris (below 10 cm) are hard to track using the existing state-of-the-art methods. However, knowing such space debris' trajectory is crucial to avoid future collisions. We present a Physics Informed Neural Network (PINN)—based approach for estimation of the trajectory of space debris after a collision event between active satellite and space debris. In this work, we have simulated 8565 inelastic collision events between active satellites and space debris. To obtain the states of the active satellite, we use the TLE data of 1647 Starlink and 66 LEMUR satellites obtained from space-track.org. The velocity of space debris is initialized using our proposed velocity sampling method, and the coefficient of restitution is sampled from our proposed Gaussian mixture-based probability density function. Using the velocities of the colliding objects before the collision, we calculate the post-collision velocities and record the observations. The state (position and velocity), coefficient of restitution, and mass estimation of un-tracked space debris after an inelastic collision event along with the tracked active satellite can be posed as an optimization problem by observing the deviation of the active satellite from the trajectory. We have applied the classical optimization method, the Lagrange multiplier approach, for solving the above optimization problem and observed that its state estimation is not satisfactory as the system is under-determined. Subsequently, we have designed Deep Neural network-based methods and Physics Informed Neural Network (PINN) based methods for solving the above optimization problem. We have compared the performance of the models using root mean square error (RMSE) and interquartile range of the predictions. It has been observed that the PINN-based methods provide a better estimation performance for position, velocity, mass and coefficient of restitution of the space debris compared to other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fully kinetic 2D axisymmetric Particle-in-Cell (PIC) model is used to examine the effects of background facility pressure on the plasma transport and propulsive efficiency of magnetic nozzles. Simulations are performed for a low-power (150 W class) cathode-less radio-frequency (RF) plasma thruster, operating with xenon, between background pressures up to 1 0 − 2 Pa and average electron discharge temperatures of 4–16 eV. When the electron temperature within the near-plume region reaches 8 eV, a decisive reduction in performance occurs: at 1 0 − 2 Pa, in-plume power losses surpass 25% of the discharge energy flux. Given that the ionisation energy for Xe is 12 eV, the 8 eV threshold indicates that a consistent percentage of electrons has energy enough to trigger ionisation. On the other hand, when the temperature is below such threshold, the primary collisions are charge-exchange and inelastic ion scattering, and the power loss remains less than 10%. It is established that losses in the considered thruster are significant if the facility pressure is greater than 1 0 − 3 Pa, at absorbed powers larger than 130 W. At the nominal 150 W, this results in a 15% thrust reduction. When facility pressure is taken into consideration over ideal vacuum simulations, numerical error is reduced to < 30% when compared to experimental thrust measurements at 1 0 − 3 Pa. • Investigation of facility effects on cathode-less RF thruster performance. • Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulation of magnetic nozzle expansion into background gas. • Up to 15% thrust reduction at 150 W beyond 1 0 − 3 Pa. • Electron inelastic collisions can cause up to 70% of total in-plume power losses. • Experimental results/setup should therefore take into account facility pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing a simplified quantum model approach, the low-energy inelastic collision processes between yttrium atoms (ions) and hydrogen atoms have been studied. Rate coefficients corresponding to the mutual neutralization, ion-pair formation, excitation, and de-excitation processes for the above collision systems have been provided in the temperature range of 1000–10 000 K. Three ionic states and 73 covalent states are considered in calculations for the collisions of yttrium atoms with hydrogen atoms, which include six molecular symmetries and 4074 partial inelastic reaction processes. For the collisions of yttrium ions with hydrogen atoms, one ionic state and 116 covalent states are included, which are related to three molecular symmetries and 13 572 partial inelastic collision processes. It is found that the rate coefficients for the mutual neutralization process have a maximum at T = 6000 K, which is an order of magnitude higher than those of other processes. Notably, the positions of optimal windows for the collisions of yttrium atoms and ions with hydrogen atoms are found near electronic binding energy −2 eV (Y) and −4.4 eV (Y+), respectively. The scattering channels located in or near these optimal windows have intermediate-to-large rate coefficients (greater than 10−12 cm3 s−1). The reported data should be useful in the study of non-local thermodynamic equilibrium modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a joint experimental and theoretical study of rotationally inelastic collisions between NO (X2Π1/2, ν = 0, j = 1/2, f) radicals and CO (X1Σ+, ν = 0, j = 0) molecules at a collision energy of 220 cm−1. State-to-state scattering images for excitation of NO radicals into various final states were measured with high resolution by combining the Stark deceleration and velocity map imaging techniques. The high image resolution afforded the observation of correlated rotational excitations of NO–CO pairs, which revealed a number of striking scattering phenomena. The so-called "parity-pair" transitions in NO are found to have similar differential cross sections, independent of the concurrent excitation of CO, extending this well-known effect for collisions between NO and rare gas atoms into the realm of bimolecular collisions. Forward scattering is found for collisions that induce a large amount of rotational energy transfer (in either NO, CO, or both), which require low impact parameters to induce sufficient energy transfer. This observation is interpreted in terms of the recently discovered hard collision glory scattering mechanism, which predicts the forward bending of initially backward receding trajectories if the energy uptake in the collision is substantial in relation to the collision energy. The experimental results are in good agreement with the predictions from coupled-channels quantum scattering calculations based on an ab initio NO–CO potential energy surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soliton-based computing relies on their unique properties for transporting energy and emerging intact from head-on collisions. Magnetic domain walls are often referred to as solitons disregarding the strict mathematical definition requiring the above scattering property. Here we demonstrate the conditions of elastic and inelastic scattering for spin–orbit torque-induced dynamics of relativistic domain walls on the technologically relevant Mn 2 Au antiferromagnetic material. We show that even domain walls with opposite winding numbers can experience elastic scattering and we present the corresponding phase diagram as a function of the spin–orbit field strength and duration. The elastic collision requires minimum domain walls speed, which we explain assuming an attractive potential created by domain wall pair. On the contrary, when the domain walls move at lower speeds, their collision is inelastic and results in a dispersing breather. Our findings will be important for the development of soliton-based computing using antiferromagnetic spintronics and we discuss their prospects for building NOT and XOR gates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new extended shallow water wave equation in (3+1) dimensions was studied, which represents abundant physical meaning in a nonlinear shallow water wave. We discussed the interaction between a lump wave and a single solitary wave, which is an inelastic collision. Further, the interaction between a lump wave and two solitary waves and the interaction between a lump wave and a periodic wave was also studied using the Hirota bilinear method. Finally, the interaction among lump, periodic and one solitary wave was investigated. The dynamic properties of the obtained results are shown and analyzed by some three-dimensional images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlocal thermodynamical equilibrium (NLTE) line formation of Y i and Y ii is considered in 1D LTE model atmospheres of FGK-type stars. The model atom was constructed with the most up-to-date atomic data, including quantum cross sections and rate coefficients for transitions in inelastic collisions of Y i and Y ii with hydrogen atoms. For seven reference stars, we obtained an agreement between NLTE abundances inferred from the two ionization stages, while the difference in LTE abundance (Y i and Y ii) can reach up to −0.31 dex. In the atmospheres of FGK-type stars, for both Y i and Y ii lines, the NLTE abundance corrections are positive. In solar metallicity stars, the NLTE abundance corrections for Y ii lines do not exceed 0.12 dex, while in atmospheres of metal-poor stars, they do not exceed 0.21 dex. For Y i lines, the NLTE abundance corrections can reach up to ∼0.5 dex. We determined the yttrium NLTE abundances for a sample of 65 F and G dwarfs and subgiants in the −2.62 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ +0.24 metallicity range, using high-resolution spectra. For stars with [Fe/H] ≤ −1.5, [Y/Fe] versus [Fe/H] diagram reveals a positive trend with an average value of [Y/Fe] ≃ 0. For metal-poor stars, among Sr, Y, and Zr, the arrangement [Sr/Fe] < [Y/Fe] < [Zr/Fe] remains consistent. The current study is useful for Galactic chemical evolution research. The model atom will be applied for NLTE yttrium abundance determination in very metal-poor stars studied with LAMOST and Subaru. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the surface quality of natural diamond grinding, the ultrasonic vibration was introduced for composite grinding, and an inelastic collision theory model was established to calculate the amplitude of ultrasonic vibration. The effects of ultrasonic amplitude, grinding speed and grinding grain size on the material removal of natural diamond (100) crystal surface were studied, and the optimal process parameters were sought. The results show that the ultrasonic amplitude ranges from 3.1 to 8.7 µm in the direction of easy grinding of natural diamond (110) crystal surface and 2.9 to 9.1 µm in the direction of easy grinding of natural diamond (100) crystal surface. The optimal process combination parameters of natural diamond (100) crystal surface grinding obtained by orthogonal experiment are ultrasonic amplitude of 6.0 µm, grinding disk speed of 2 800 r/min, diamond grinding grain size code of M3/6. The surface roughness Ra of diamond (100) crystal surface after ultrasonic assisted grinding is 16.21 nm, which is 63.83% lower than that of traditional mechanical grinding. Ultrasonic assisted grinding of natural diamonds can achieve better surface quality than traditional mechanical grinding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inelastic collisions and elementary chemical reactions proceeding through the formation and subsequent decay of an intermediate collision complex, with an associated deep well on the potential energy surface, pose a challenge for accurate fully quantum mechanical approaches, such as the close-coupling method. In this study, we report on the theoretical prediction of temperature-dependent state-to-state rate coefficients for these complex-mode processes, using a statistical quantum method. This statistical adiabatic channel model is benchmarked by a direct comparison using accurate rate coefficients from the literature for a number of systems (H2 + H+, HD + H+, SH+ + H, and CH+ + H) of interest in astrochemistry and astrophysics. For all of the systems considered, an error of less than factor 2 was found, at least for the dominant transitions and at low temperatures, which is sufficiently accurate for applications in the above mentioned disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though the interaction of blast waves with dense particle distributions is ubiquitous in nature and in industry, the underlying physics of the multiphase system evolution is not clearly understood. A canonical multiphase system composed of an embedded monodisperse distribution of spherical particles in a spherical, high-energy gaseous charge is studied numerically using an Eulerian–Lagrangian approach to elucidate the role of non-dilute particle effects on the dynamics of the two-phase flow system. The direct simulation Monte Carlo method is modified to model inelastic particle–particle collisions and to model the gaseous flow inter-leaving through complex structures of monodisperse dense distributions of spherical particles to obtain parameters that are fit to semi-empirical particle cloud drag laws that account for aerodynamic interactions. The study reveals that inter-particle collisions decrease the total particle kinetic energy at early stages of the particle-laden blast wave system evolution, but near-particle interaction increases the particle kinetic energy at this stage. In contrast, at later stages of evolution, collisions tend to retain more kinetic energy, while the aerodynamic interactions tend to dissipate particle kinetic energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling protoplanetary disks and other interstellar media that are not in local thermal equilibrium require the knowledge of rovibrational transition rate coefficients of molecules in collision with helium and hydrogen. We present a computational method based on the numerically exact coupled-channel (CC) method for rotational transitions and a multi-channel distorted-wave Born approximation (MC-DWBA) for vibrational transitions to calculate state-to-state rate coefficients. We apply this method to the astrophysically important case of CO2–He collisions, using newly computed ab initio three-dimensional potential energy surfaces for CO2–He with CO2 distorted along the symmetric and asymmetric stretch (ν1 and ν3) coordinates. It is shown that the MC-DWBA method is almost as accurate as full CC calculations, but more efficient. We also made computations with the more approximate vibrational coupled-channel rotational infinite-order sudden method but found that this method strongly underestimates the vibrationally inelastic collision cross sections and rate coefficients for both CO2 modes considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential and integral cross sections for elastic and electronically inelastic scattering of electrons by the thiophene molecule were determined by means of the Schwinger multichannel method within the static-exchange plus polarization approximation in the energy range from 3.41 to 50 eV. We investigated the influence of multichannel coupling effects by calculating the cross sections according to different schemes of channel coupling that range from 1 to 61 open channels along with polarization effects, depending on the energy considered. The comparison of these results shows that the inclusion of more channels in the scattering calculations leads to a significant decrease in the magnitude of the cross sections. Present results corresponding to our best level of channel coupling at a given energy, both for elastic and electronically inelastic electron scattering by thiophene, display an overall good agreement with the data available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a spectroscopic study and simulation of the processes of population and destruction of the levels of the 2p55s configuration of a neon atom in a decaying plasma of a low-frequency barrier discharge in a He–Ne mixture are presented. Experimental conditions: helium pressure 0.08–22 Torr, neon pressure ≤3 mTorr, electron density less than 1011 cm–3. On the basis of data on the evolution of the populations of the 3si levels (in Paschen's notation) with a change in helium pressure, data on the rate constants of collisional processes that determine the kinetics of these levels in He–Ne plasma are obtained more accurate than those available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that the multiplicity distribution of photons produced with enhanced void probability in inelastic proton-proton collisions at s = 900 GeV, 2.76 TeV, and 7 TeV, measured at forward rapidities by the ALICE experiment at LHC, can be described by the geometric Poisson distribution. The traditionally used negative binomial distribution fails to reproduce the enhanced void probability and the shape of the modified combinants simultaneously. Our findings are relevant for the theoretical modeling of photon production processes in high-energy hadronic collisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the construction of exact solutions of a system of two Boltzmann kinetic inhomogeneous equations. The source functions in the equations simulate the integrals of double and triple inelastic collisions. An extension of the Lie group L 4 admitted by the system of homogeneous equations is carried out. In the present paper, the Lie group L 4 is considered as an equivalence group for inhomogeneous equations. Conditions are found under which transformations from the extended group vanish the sources in the transformed equations. A class of sources linear in the distribution functions is obtained for which the generalized Bobylev–Krook–Wu solutions hold in explicit form. Physical interpretations are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous microwave ablation (PMA) is a thermoablative method used as a minimally invasive treatment for liver cancer. However, the application of PMA is limited by its insufficient ROS generation efficiency and thermal effects. Herein, a new microwave-activated Cu-doped zirconium metal-organic framework (MOF) (Cu Zr MOF) used for enhanced PMA has a significantly improved microwave sensitizing effect. Owing to the strong inelastic collisions between ions confined in numerous micropores, Cu Zr MOF has strong microwave sensitivity and high thermal conversion efficiency, which can significantly improve microwave thermal therapy (MTT). Moreover, because of the existence of Cu2+ ions, a further benefit of Cu Zr MOF is their Fenton-like activity, in particular, microwaves used as an excitation source for microwave dynamic therapy (MDT) can improve the Fenton-like reaction to maximize the synergistic effectiveness of cancer therapy. Importantly, Cu Zr MOF can inhibit the production of heat shock proteins (HSPs) by producing abundant ROS to enhance tumor destruction. Mechanistically, we found that Cu Zr MOF + MW treatment modulates ferroptosis-mediated tumor cell death by targeting the HMOX1/GPX4 axis. In summary, this study develops a novel Cu Zr MOF microwave sensitizer with great potential for synergistic treatment of liver cancer by MTT and MDT. Cu Zr MOF was fabricated with a hydrothermal one-pot low-cost green method. Cu Zr MOF has strong microwave sensitivity and high thermal conversion efficiency, which can realize the synergistic treatment of microwave thermal therapy (MTT) and microwave dynamic therapy (MDT). Mechanistically, we found that Cu Zr MOF + MW treatment modulates ferroptosis-mediated tumor apoptosis by targeting the HMOX1/GPX4 axis. [Display omitted] • A novel kind of microwave-activated Cu-doped zirconium metal-organic framework (MOF) (Cu Zr MOF) used for improve microwave thermal therapy that has a significantly improved microwave sensitizing effect. • Microwaves used as an excitation source for microwave dynamic therapy (MDT) can produce more ROS to maximize the synergistic effectiveness of cancer therapy. • Cu Zr MOF + MW treatment modulates ferroptosis-mediated tumor death by targeting the HMOX1/GPX4 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementation of the Candler model of vibrational-vibrational energy transfer between diatomic molecules in an inelastic collision is discussed. An example of oxygen O2 and nitrogen N2 interaction is used to analyze the method of simple iterations, the Newton method, the method of bisection, and the approximate formula for calculating the equilibrium vibrational temperature, which is necessary in the Candler model. The method recommended for simulations is the Newton method or bisection. The model of vibrational-vibrational energy transfer is tested by examples of zero-dimensional vibrational relaxation, the flow around a cylinder, and the flow in a wedge-shaped nozzle. It is demonstrated that vibrational-vibrational energy transfer affects the distribution of vibrational temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonlinear Schrödinger equation with the combined effects of variable nonlinearity and generalized external potentials is investigated. Three soliton solutions are generated by means of Darboux method through constructed Lax pair. We attained two constraints related to gain or loss function for considered equation via compatibility condition. Using three soliton solutions, influences of the inhomogeneous nonlinearity and harmonic potential on soliton structures are analysed by properly tailoring the loss or gain parameter. Specifically, via inelastic collision among three solitons, soliton switching characteristics is observed. Additionally, we explore the Modulation instability (MI) through linear stability analysis (LSA) and impact of nonlinearity profile is examined. The trigonometric, exponential and constant values have been chosen for loss or gain parameter to study the effect on the MI gain spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By exploiting the physical effect of the electron emission from a thermionic source in combination with a magnetically controlled Fe–Al dynamic platform to assist electrical discharge, we generated atmospheric microplasma (AM). The electrical characteristics of microplasma discharge-induced cold atmospheric plasma in combination with a magnetically controlled Fe–Al dynamic platform in open air were evaluated. The surface analysis of organic wheat seeds was investigated at two steps: (1) the coating effect of an Al nanoparticle with an electrons drift toward the seed surface along the direction of an electric field and (2) inelastic collision with secondary electrons moving from the cathode in the presence of an electric field. Using SEM microscopy analysis, it was found that plasma affects seed surface topography and apparent contact angle (ACA). The effect of atmospheric microplasma treatment leads to seed surface modification by the manifestation of fine mesh structures on the seed surface. Well-established AM technology will garner interest in agriculture and biomaterials coatings applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anion C5N− is one of the largest linear (C,N)-bearing chains detected in the interstellar medium. Here we present and discuss the general features of new ab initio potential energy surfaces describing the interaction of this linear anion with He and H2. We employ a Legendre Polynomials expansion representation for the former and an artificial neural network fit for the latter. We then carry out quantum scattering calculations to yield rotationally inelastic cross-sections for collisions with He and H2, using relative translational energy values in the range of 0.1–300 cm−1. We then obtained the corresponding inelastic rate coefficients as a function of temperature covering the range from 1 to 100 K. The results for these two systems are compared with each other, as well as with the earlier results on the C3N− colliding with the same partners. We found that the final inelastic rate coefficients for this anion are all fairly large, those from collisions with H2 being the largest. The consequences of such findings on their non-equilibrium rotational populations in interstellar environments are discussed in our conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anion C5N− is one of the largest linear (C,N)-bearing chains detected in the interstellar medium. Here we present and discuss the general features of new ab initio potential energy surfaces describing the interaction of this linear anion with He and H2. We employ a Legendre Polynomials expansion representation for the former and an artificial neural network fit for the latter. We then carry out quantum scattering calculations to yield rotationally inelastic cross-sections for collisions with He and H2, using relative translational energy values in the range of 0.1–300 cm−1. We then obtained the corresponding inelastic rate coefficients as a function of temperature covering the range from 1 to 100 K. The results for these two systems are compared with each other, as well as with the earlier results on the C3N− colliding with the same partners. We found that the final inelastic rate coefficients for this anion are all fairly large, those from collisions with H2 being the largest. The consequences of such findings on their non-equilibrium rotational populations in interstellar environments are discussed in our conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rate coefficients for vibrational energy transfer are calculated for collisions between molecular nitrogen and hydrogen in a wide range of temperature and of initial vibrational states ( v ≤ 40 for N 2 and w ≤ 10 for H 2 ). These data are needed for the modelling of discharges in N 2 /H 2 plasma or of atmospheric and interstellar medium chemistry in different temperature ranges. The calculations were performed by a mixed quantum-classical method, to recover quantum effects associated with the vibrational motion, on a refined potential energy surface. The obtained rates present striking discrepancies with those evaluated by first-order perturbation theories, like the SSH (Schwartz, Slavsky, Herzfeld) theory, which are often adopted in kinetic modelling. In addition, we present a detailed, though preliminary, analysis on the performance of different Machine Learning models based on the Gaussian Process or Neural Network techniques to produce complete datasets of inelastic scattering rate coefficients. Eventually, by using the selected models, we give the complete dataset (i.e., covering the whole vibrational ladder) of rate coefficients for the N 2 (v) + H 2 (0) ⟶ N 2 (v - Δ v) + H 2 (0) , Δ v = 1 , 2 , 3 processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We find an l = 2 shape resonance fingerprinted in the angular distribution of the cold (∼1 K) Δj = 2 rotationally inelastic collision of D2 with He in a single supersonic expansion. The Stark-induced adiabatic Raman passage is used to prepare D2 in the (v = 2, j = 2) rovibrational level with control of the spatial distribution of the bond axis of the molecule by magnetic sublevel selection. We show that the rate of Δj = 2 D2–D2 relaxation is nearly two orders of magnitude weaker than that of D2–He. This suggests that the strong D2–He scattering is caused by an orbiting resonance that is highly sensitive to the shape of the long-range potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]