Total scattering cross sections calculated from nonscattering information

The total scattering cross section is a property of a diatomic system which is quite sensitive to the internuclear potential energy curve.In some cases , a partial potential inversion of the total cross section is possible, 2 while in other cases the total cross section provides a check on the validity 3 of a potential obtained from other sorts of information, e.g., spectroscopy.Partly to facilitate such comparisons we have constructed potentials from t 4 nonscattering information and calculated cross sections for the following systems: H+Hg (Fig. 1), H+Li, He(2 1 S)+He (Fig. 2), and Mg+Mg.The fully quantum mechanical partial wave calculations are complete for the systems 4 shown in the figures and in progress for the other two systems.The potentials in each case are based predominantly on spectroscopic information.These comparisons should prove useful not only as a check on the validity of nonscattering potentials, but also as a check on experimental energy selector calibration and absolute cross section values.Finally, it should be noted that low-lying excited state potential curves occur in some cases (e.g.,