Rate coefficients for the rovibrational excitation of CO by H2 and He

Abstract

Abstract Cross-sections and rate coefficients have been calculated for the rovibrational excitation of CO by ortho- and para-H2 and by He. We adopted the quantal coupled channels method of solving the scattering equations, including CO rotational levels in the v = 0, 1 and 2 vibrational manifolds. Comparison is made with the results of previous calculations, which employed different interaction potentials and less accurate approximations to the collision dynamics. We consider that the present calculations yield reliable values of the rate coefficients for rovibrational excitation of CO at kinetic temperatures T ≈ 103 K.