Resonances in inelastic collisions of Ne + D2 in the cold energy regime

Scattering resonances are quantum phenomena arising from the decay of metastable collision complexes trapped by a centrifugal barrier or supported by a closed channel that is coupled to a scattering state. As such, resonances can provide significant insights into the scattering process and serve as a sensitive probe of the interaction potential. In this article, we present a detailed analysis of a cluster of shape resonances associated with the orbital angular momentum L = 5 in the j = 2 → j′ = 0 rotational transition in Ne + D2 collisions for vibrational levels v = 0, 1, and 4. The energies and lifetimes of the resonances arising from different values of the total angular momentum quantum number J were analyzed through numerical fitting of the scattering matrix and employing a one-dimensional model based on an effective potential. We further investigated the sensitivity of the resonances to changes in the alignment of the D2 internuclear axis with respect to the initial relative velocity. Our results show that resonances can be exquisitely controlled by carefully selecting the initial alignment of the D2 molecule. In particular, not only the intensity of the resonance can be modulated but also the shape of the overall resonance profile can be altered, depending on the stereodynamical preferences of the individual resonances that contribute to the cluster.