A new look at rotational and vibrational excitation in the scattering of Li+ from N2 and CO at energies between 4 and 17 eV

New experimental time-of-flight distributions are reported for Li⁺-N₂ and Li²-CO at two center-of-mass energies of about 8 and 16 eV and large scattering angles θ_lab ? 120°. The Li⁺-N₂ spectra show two widely spaced maxima, whereas the Li⁺-CO spectra show two and sometimes three maxima. The results are consistent with the model of rotational rainbows, and have also been analyzed in terms of an impulsive model involving collisions with the individual atoms of the molecules with energy-dependent masses. Classical trajectories for a simple model potential reveal only small contributions from vibrational excitation.