Fig. 5: Product rotational distributions and their correlations with the scattering angles.

The calculated correlation contour map between the N2 product rotational excitation and the scattering angle for the collisional energy transfer process Ar+(2P3/2) + N2 → Ar+(2P1/2, 3/2) + N2(v′) at the COM collision energy of 1.58 eV: (a) N2(v′=0), (b) N2(v′=1), (c) N2(v′=2); and the calculated correlation contour map between the N2 product rotational excitation and the scattering angle for the collisional energy transfer process Ar+(2P1/2) + N2 → Ar+(2P1/2, 3/2) + N2(v′) at the COM collision energy of 1.58 eV: (d) N2(v′=0), (e) N2(v′=1), (f) N2(v′=2).