Dynamics and Dissociation of Collisionally Formed Heavy-Rydberg Ion-Pair States

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dc.contributor.advisorDunning, F. Barryen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberKillian, Thomas Cen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBrooks, Philip Ren_US
dc.creatorWang, Changhaoen_US
dc.date.accessioned2016-01-26T21:47:03Zen_US
dc.date.available2016-01-26T21:47:03Zen_US
dc.date.created2015-05en_US
dc.date.issued2015-02-27en_US
dc.date.submittedMay 2015en_US
dc.date.updated2016-01-26T21:47:04Zen_US
dc.description.abstractHeavy-Rydberg ion-pair states, molecular quantum systems that are bound by their long-range pure Coulomb attraction, are formed through Rydberg atom collisions with molecules that attach low energy electrons. Collisions of potassium Rydberg atoms K(np) with the attaching species CCl4 and SF6 lead, respectively, to dissociative and non-dissociative electron attachment with subsequent formation of bound ion-pair states K+..Cl- and K+..SF6-. The experimental apparatus used to produce and detect heavy-Rydberg ion-pair states consists of a reaction region and a separate analysis region. It separates a fraction of the product ion pairs from the parent Rydberg atoms, eliminating spurious background signals associated with blackbody-induced and electric-field ionization of Rydberg atoms. A position sensitive detector in the analysis region is employed to measure their velocity, angular, and binding energy distribution and lifetimes. Measurements of the spatial distribution of ion pairs provide information on their velocity and angular distributions, and their binding energy distribution is measured using electric field-induced dissociation. The lifetime of the ion-pair states is influenced by multiple processes including internal-to-translational energy transfer, autodetachment of the electron, and neutralization through charge transfer. The experimental results are compared with the results of a Monte Carlo collision code that models both the initial Rydberg electron attachment and the subsequent evolution and molecular dynamics of the ion pairs. This model highlights the factors such as the kinematics of the Rydberg atom and the attaching particle and energy released in dissociation (in the case of dissociative attachment) that are important in governing ion pair formation. The model calculations are in good agreement with the experimental data.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationWang, Changhao. "Dynamics and Dissociation of Collisionally Formed Heavy-Rydberg Ion-Pair States." (2015) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/88147">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/88147</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/88147en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectRydberg Atomen_US
dc.subjectIon Pairen_US
dc.subjectMolecular Dissociationen_US
dc.subjectElectron Attachment to Moleculeen_US
dc.subjectMonte Carlo Simulationen_US
dc.titleDynamics and Dissociation of Collisionally Formed Heavy-Rydberg Ion-Pair Statesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentPhysics and Astronomyen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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