Rotational state distribution of NO molecules scattered from surfaces

Quantum mechanical calculations of final rotational state distributions are carried out for a simple model of the scattering of NO from surfaces. The dependence of the results on parameters of the potential such as sign and size of the anisotropy and asymmetry, the well depth etc. is discussed. Certain difficulties in explaining experimental results for NO scattered from Ag (111) are pointed out. The dependence of the results on an initial rotational temperature is discussed also. Its main effect — which is well known from the literature — is to average out the quantum oscillations of the cross sections around the rainbow structures. The oscillations may become visible at rotational temperatures slightly lower than used up to now.Dedicated to B. Mühlschlegel on the occasion of his 60th birthday