Fig. 6

Non-adiabatic interactions in the triplet channel of N\({}_{2}^{+}\) + Rb. Cuts of the potential energy surface in the triplet channel for charge-transfer (CT) reactions of Rb(\({}^{2}{S}_{1/2}\)) with N\({}_{2}^{+}\) at different orientation angles \(\theta\). \(R\) denotes the N\({}_{2}\)–Rb separation. CT occurs predominantly through non-adiabatic interactions around the avoided crossing points of the two \({}^{3}A^{\prime}\) surfaces in \({C}_{\text{s}}\) symmetry. Panels a–d show cuts through the coupled surfaces at N\({}_{2}\)–Rb orientation angles \(\theta =0,\,5,\,45\) and 90\({}^{\circ }\).