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The radiative properties of long‐range molecules
Author(s) -
Stwalley William C.,
Zemke Warren T.
Publication year - 2009
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/qua.560100823
Subject(s) - radiative transfer , range (aeronautics) , dissociation (chemistry) , atomic physics , molecule , kinetic energy , vibrational energy , atomic electron transition , bond dissociation energy , chemistry , molecular electronic transition , physics , materials science , excited state , spectral line , quantum mechanics , organic chemistry , composite material
The radiative properties of long‐range molecules (molecules in vibrational‐rotational levels near dissociation sensitive to long‐range forces) are discussed. It is argued that electronic transitions involving these levels are dominated by transitions to and from similar long‐range levels and the low kinetic energy portions of the corresponding continua. Electronic radiative lifetimes of these levels are shown to rapidly approach the lifetimes of the asymptotic atoms. Finally it is pointed out that vibrational transition between levels in a single electronic state will be extremely weak, corresponding to lifetimes at least of the order of years.