A quantum-mechanical study of rotational transitions in H2 induced by H

Cross sections have been computed for rotational transitions of H2, induced by collisions with H atoms, using a recent H–H2 potential calculated by Mielke et al (2002 J. Chem. Phys. 116 4142). These results are compared with those obtained with earlier potentials. Significant discrepancies are found with results deriving from the potential of Boothroyd et al (1996 J. Chem. Phys. 104 7139) in the low collision energy regime. We compare also cross sections derived using different levels of approximation to the vibrational motion.