Close coupling results for inelastic collisions of NH3 and Ar. A stringent test of a spectroscopic potential.

We have calculated state-to-state total cross sections for rotational excitation and inversion of NH3 by collisions with Ar using the close coupling method. The Ar-NH3 interaction potential has been obtained from a fit to the spectrum of this van der Waals molecule. The calculated cross sections agree to within about 30% with the measured values; the estimated error in the latter is 10% to 20%.