N2- and O2-broadening coefficients of C2H2 IR lines

Pressure-broadening parameters of six lines belonging to the ν₅ band of C₂H₂ in collision with N₂ have been measured with a tunable diode-laser spectrometer in order to complete up to J = 33 our earlier measurements (D. Lambot, G. Blanquet, and J. P. Bouanich, J. Mol. Spectrosc.136, 86–92 (1989)) on the broadening of C₂H₂ by N₂ and O₂ at 297 K. These N₂- and O₂-broadening coefficients have been first calculated on the basis of the Anderson-Tsao-Curnutte theory; in this approach, we show that the short-range interactions which contribute significantly to the linewidths are not correctly treated. Next, we consider the improved semiclassical model proposed by Robert and Bonamy. The intermolecular potential consists in the addition of the atom-atom interaction model to the quadrupolar interactions. The limited radial spherical harmonics expansion of the atom-atom potential, from which expressions for the differential cross section were derived, appears to be quite insufficient at short intermolecular distances. Therefore, we use a more accurate representation of this potential, avoiding an inadequate truncation and keeping the analytic expressions obtained by Bonamy and Robert. In the calculations we take into account the contributions derived from the radial functions U₀₀₀(r), U₂₀₀(r), and U₂₂₀(r), as well as from U₄₀₀(r). A theoretical expression is obtained for the U₄₀₀ contribution to the differential cross section. The results of the calculations arising from the exact radial expansion of the atom-atom potential appear to be significantly larger for high J lines than those arising from the truncated expansion. The latter results, which do not include adjustable atom-atom parameters, are in good agreement with experimental broadening coefficients for C₂H₂---O₂ and in reasonable agreement (except at large J values) for C₂H₂---N₂. It is also shown that the contributions to the linewidths derived from U₄₀₀ are rather small for C₂H₂---N₂ and more important for C₂H₂---O₂. Finally, by calculating the collisional linewidths of C₂H₂---N₂ and C₂H₂---O₂ at 200 K, we have predicted their temperature dependences.