Cross sections for the anisotropic interaction of NNO with various molecules

Cross sections for the relaxation of the rotational angular momentum vector of the NNO molecule on collision with CO, Ar, CO2, NNO, Kr, CF4, and Xe, have been measured by 15N spin relaxation in 15N15NO molecules. The relaxation times of the two nuclei are in a ratio 1.86, independent of density, collision partner, or temperature. Except for Ar and CO, the cross sections are larger than the hard sphere cross sections and their temperature dependences range from T−0.8 to T−1.0.