Calculations of fine-structure resolved collisional rate coefficients for the NH(X3Σ−)-He system

We present fine-structure-resolved collisional rate coefficients for the NH(X3Σ−)-He van der Waals complex. The calculations are based on the state-of-the-art potential energy surface [Cybulski et al., J. Chem. Phys. 122, 094307 (2005)]. Close-coupling calculations of the collisional excitation cross sections of the fine-structure levels of NH by He are calculated for total energies up to 3500 cm−1, which yield, after thermal average, rate coefficients up to 350 K. The fine-structure splitting of rotational levels is taken into account rigorously. The propensity rules between fine-structure levels are reported, and it is found that F-conserving cross sections are much larger than F-changing cross sections, as expected from theoretical considerations. The calculated rate coefficients are compared with available experimental measurements at room temperature and a fairly good agreement is found between experimental and theoretical data. The agreement confirms the relatively good quality of the scattering cal...