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State‐changing collisions of low‐Rydberg Na atoms with ground state He atoms: A low‐energy study involving spherical and nonspherical initial target states
Author(s) -
Saha Bidhan C.,
Kumar Anil
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of quantum chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.484
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-461X
pISSN - 0020-7608
DOI - 10.1002/1097-461x(2000)80:4/5<1011::aid-qua50>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - atomic physics , excited state , semiclassical physics , adiabatic process , quenching (fluorescence) , ground state , rydberg formula , rydberg state , rydberg atom , chemistry , wave function , atom (system on chip) , physics , excitation , potential energy , inelastic collision , electron , quantum mechanics , fluorescence , quantum , ionization , ion , computer science , embedded system
Low‐energy ( E ≤1 eV) state‐changing collisions of excited atom, particularly the low‐Rydberg ( n <10, l = n −1) Na atoms, with the ground state He atoms are studied theoretically by applying the semiclassical impact‐parameter method, in which a coupled molecular states expansion augmented with the electron translation factor is used to represent the electronic wave function. Cross sections are presented for Na (6s/8s/9s; 5p→ nl ) processes. The de‐excitation processes still dominate the quenching and the s ‐to‐ f (and l >3) propensity rule holds. The explanation lies in the ordering of the relevant adiabatic energy curves and the nature of the coupling. The Stueckelberg interference oscillations are found in the inelastic cross sections. The role of the nonspherical target state before the collision is discussed. The total thermal energy quenching rates are calculated and compared with the experiment results. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 80: 1011–1023, 2000