Use of Rydberg atoms as a microscale laboratory to probe low-energy electron-molecule interactions

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dc.contributor.advisorDunning, F. B.en_US
dc.creatorParthasarathy, Ramapriyaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-04T07:01:16Zen_US
dc.date.available2009-06-04T07:01:16Zen_US
dc.date.issued2001en_US
dc.description.abstractDissociative and non-dissociative electron attachment processes are investigated via electron transfer in collisions between velocity selected Rydberg atoms and molecules. Low-energy dissociative electron attachment to BrCN and CBrCl 3, over the temperature range 300 to 450K, is examined, by measuring the velocity and angular distributions of negative ions produced. Measurements for BrCN indicate that electron capture leads to the formation of transient BrCN-* ions that dissociate with a mean lifetime tau ∼20 ps to form CN- product ions. No significant Br - production was observed over the present temperature range. Electron transfer to CBrCl3 leads to the formation of both Cl - and Br- ions. The branching ratio of the reaction pathways dramatically changes with temperature. Investigation of non-dissociative electron attachment to C6H6 indicates that benzene anions are formed with lifetimes of ∼3 ps. Influence of a strong applied electric field on background processes like blackbody photoionization and collisional photo ionization, which complicate studies of Rydberg atom collision processes, is analyzed and the results presented.en_US
dc.format.extent117 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS PHYS. 2001 PARTHASARATHYen_US
dc.identifier.citationParthasarathy, Ramapriya. "Use of Rydberg atoms as a microscale laboratory to probe low-energy electron-molecule interactions." (2001) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/18011">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/18011</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/18011en_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.subjectMolecular physicsen_US
dc.subjectAtomic physicsen_US
dc.titleUse of Rydberg atoms as a microscale laboratory to probe low-energy electron-molecule interactionsen_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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