In this dissertation, a theory of vibration-rotation (V-R) energy transfer in atom-vibrating-rotor collisions is formulated by a simple extension of the Arthurs and Dalgarno atom-rigid-rotor theory, and V-R transition probabilities, cross sections and rate constants are found from solutions to a set of coupled differential equations. The theory is tested on two near-resonant V-R energy transfer processes. First, the rate constant for the (υ=0, j=20 <– υ=1, j=15) transition in Ar-OH(A^2 Σ^+) is calculated in the infinite-order sudden approximation and in the distorted-wave approximation at 360°K. The results agree with experiment and indicate that the transition is direct and first-order. Second, cross sections for the (υ=1, j=7 <– υ=0, j=11) excitation in Li^+ -H_2(X^1 Σ_g^+) are obtained in the exponential distorted-wave approximation at 14,000°K. The calculated cross sections are larger than those of neighboring off-resonant V-R and non-V-R transitions. It is concluded that near-resonant V-R energy transfer is an important process in atom-diatom collisions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BGMYU2/oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-9357 |
| Date | 01 August 1973 |
| Creators | Smith, Wesley Dexter |
| Publisher | BYU ScholarsArchive |
| Source Sets | Brigham Young University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/ |
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