Energy transfer reaction K(4s) + K(7s) \rightarrow K(4s) + K(5f), theory compared with experiment

Abstract

A comparison between theory and experiment, concerning the K(4s)+K(7s)\rightarrow K(4s)+K(5f) reaction of energy transfer in thermal collisions, is presented. Relevant cross sections are calculated for the potassium vapour temperatures in the range of 310-1000 K. They are based on the theoretical adiabatic K_2 potential energy curves and on the use of the multicrossing Landau-Zener model. In the temperature range of the present experiment, 428-451 K, the computed cross sections vary little, from 2.09x10^-14 cm^2 to 2.04x10^-14 cm^2, and agree well with the value 1.8(8)x10^-14 cm^2, which is the average of the corresponding experimental results.