Analysis of rotationally inelastic molecule-surface collisions: A two-dimensional treatment

Z. Baçic, S. D. Bosanac

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Molecule-surface collisions are analyzed classically using a two-dimensional hard-core ellipsoidflat-surface model. Closed expressions are derived for the maximal excitations and deexcitations of the rotational transitions for an initially rotating molecule in the state j0. These bounds are not symmetric with respect to j0. We make comparisons with the predictions of the infiniteorder sudden approximation, and show that it is not suitable for analyzing quantitatively the problem of transition bounds. A classical condition for the onset of multiple molecule-surface collisions is also derived, which is applicable to both the initially rotating and nonrotating molecules. Quantum two-dimensional calculations fully support the results of the classical analysis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2998-3004
Number of pages7
JournalPhysical Review A
Volume30
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1984

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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