Investigation of the B2Σ and test of the A2II interaction potential for Na(32P)-Ar from high-resolution differential scattering measurements

We have measured differential cross sections for scattering of laser-excited Na(3²P_{$\text{3}\text{2}$}) by Ar(¹S₀) at thermal collision energies with high angular resolution (0.1°). In the investigated range of scattering angles (1°–15°) the cross sections contain contributions from scattering along the excited state B²Σ potential (rainbow scattering) and the A²II potential (supernumerary rainbows). By performing fit calculations in which the spectroscopically determined A²II potential was adopted we were able to obtain information about the B²Σ potential. With the assumption of a Lennard-Jones (12.6) potential shape we obtain a well depth ?^BΣ = (0.14±0.02)×10^?3 au and an equilibrium distance r_m^BΣ = 10.4±1.0 au. This work presents the first experimental determination of the B²Σ potential well parameters.