CLASSICAL STUDY OF COLLISIONS OF RYDBERG ATOMS WITH POLAR MOLECULES

dc.creatorPRESTON, STEVEN CRAIGen_US
dc.date.accessioned2007-05-09T19:36:25Zen_US
dc.date.available2007-05-09T19:36:25Zen_US
dc.date.issued1984en_US
dc.description.abstractCross sections for the collision of a highly excited atom with a polar molecule have been calculated using a classical trajectory Monte-Carlo approach. Many features of experiment have been observed and explained. For example, the tendency for the Rydberg atom to be further excited can be explained by the likelihood for multiple electron-molecule encounters. Furthermore, the probability of multiple encounters also casts doubts on the validity of the free electron model, a commonly used approach in Rydberg collision problems. Quantitatively, the state changing cross sections calculated in this study are typically smaller than experimental measurements. This may be due to the failure of classical mechanics to quantize the possible states of a physical system, especially since the total cross section agrees with experiment. It is thus hoped that a proposed semi-classical procedure, in which the molecule is treated quantum mechanically, will produce results in better agreement with experiment.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoThesis Phys. 1984 Prestonen_US
dc.identifier.citationPRESTON, STEVEN CRAIG. "CLASSICAL STUDY OF COLLISIONS OF RYDBERG ATOMS WITH POLAR MOLECULES." (1984) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/15853">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/15853</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/15853en_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.subjectAtomic physicsen_US
dc.titleCLASSICAL STUDY OF COLLISIONS OF RYDBERG ATOMS WITH POLAR MOLECULESen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentPhysicsen_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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