State-to-state rotational transitions in H2+H2 collisions at low temperatures

We present quantum mechanical close-coupling calculations of collisions between two hydrogen molecules over a wide range of energies, extending from the ultracold limit to the superthermal region. The two most recently published potential energy surfaces for the H(2)-H(2) complex, the so-called Diep-Johnson (DJ) J. Chem. Phys. 112, 4465 (2000); 113, 3480 (2000)] and Boothroyd-Martin-Keogh-Peterson (BMKP) J. Chem. Phys. 116, 666 (2002)] surfaces, are quantitatively evaluated and compared through the investigation of rotational transitions in H(2)+H(2) collisions within rigid rotor approximation. The BMKP surface is expected to be an improvement, approaching chemical accuracy, over all conformations of the potential energy surface compared to previous calculations of H(2)-H(2) interaction. We found significant differences in rotational excitation/deexcitation cross sections computed on the two surfaces in collisions between two para-H(2) molecules. The discrepancy persists over a large range of energies from the ultracold regime to thermal energies and occurs for several low-lying initial rotational levels. Good agreement is found with experiment B. Mate et al., J. Chem. Phys. 122, 064313 (2005)] for the lowest rotational excitation process, but only with the use of the DJ potential. Rate coefficients computed with the BMKP potential are an order of magnitude smaller.