Abstract
Fine-structure populations and collision-induced energy transfer in atoms are of interest for many fields, from combustion to astrophysics. In particular, neutral carbon atoms are known to play a role in interstellar media, either as probes of physical conditions (ground state (3)P (j) spin-orbit populations), or as cooling agent (collisional excitation followed by radiative decay). This work aims at investigating the spin-orbit excitation of atomic carbon in its ground electronic state due to collisions with molecular deuterium, an isotopic variant of H(2), the most abundant molecule in the interstellar medium. Spin-orbit excitations of C((3)P (j) ) by H(2) or D(2) are governed by non-adiabatic and spin-orbit couplings, which make the theoretical treatment challenging, since the Born-Oppenheimer approximation no longer holds. Inelastic collisional cross-sections were determined for the C((3)P(0)) + D(2) → C((3)P (j) ) + D(2) (with j = 1 and 2) excitation process. Experimental data were acquired in a crossed beam experiment at low collision energies, down to the excitation thresholds (at 16.42 and 43.41 cm(-1), respectively). C-atoms were produced mainly in their ground spin-orbit state, (3)P(0), by dissociation of CO in a dielectric discharge through an Even-Lavie pulsed valve. The C-atom beam was crossed with a D(2) beam from a second valve. The state-to-state cross-sections were derived from the C((3)P (j) ) (j = 1 or 2) signal measured as a function of the beam crossing angle, i.e., as a function of the collision energy. The results show different quantum behaviors for excitation to C((3)P(1)) or C((3)P(2)) when C((3)P(0)) collides with ortho-D(2) or normal-D(2). These experimental results are analyzed and discussed in the light of highly accurate quantum calculations. A good agreement between experimental and theoretical results is found. The present data are compared with those obtained for the C-He and C-H(2) collisional systems to get new insights into the dynamics of collision induced spin-orbit excitation/relaxation of atomic carbon.