Knowledge Bank

Collisional energy transfer between the $A2\Pi$ and $X2\Sigma +$ states of CN is known to be facile. This process is some what unusual in that the transfer cross section (measured at room temperature) appears to be insensitive to the energy gap between the initial and final $levelsg$. By characterizing the electronic predissociation of $CN(A2\Pi )$-Ne we have investigated the half-collision analog of $CN(A)+ Ne\rightarrow CN(X) + $Ne energy $transferh$. In sharp contrast to the full-collision dynamics, the predissociation rate is strongly dependent on the energy gap. To facilities interpretation of the collision and preddissociation dynamics, Yang and $Alexanderi$ have recently computed potential energy surfaces and non-adiabatic coupling matrix elements for CN-Ne. In this talk we will present an overview of CN-Ne, the results of OODR predissociation rate measurements, and a theoretical discussion of the dynamics. Work supported by the National Science Foundation.