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Low Energy Atom-Atom Collisions

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Atomic and Molecular Collision Theory

Abstract

The semiclassical theory of atom-atom potential scattering and of low energy inelastic atom-atom scattering is reviewed. Particular attention is given to the origin and interpretation of rainbow structure, diffraction oscillations and exchange oscillations in the potential scattering differential cross-section, and to the glory structure and symmetry oscillations in the integral cross-section. Available methods for direct inversion of the cross-section data to recover the potential are reviewed in some detail.

The theory of non-adiabatic transitions is introduced by a short discussion of interaction mechanisms and of diabatic and adiabatic representations. Analytical S matrix elements are presented for two state curve-crossing (Landau-Zener-Stückelberg), Demkov and Nikitin models. The relation between Stückelberg oscillations in the S matrix and in the differential cross-section is discussed in terms of interference between trajectories belonging to two different classical deflection functions. The energy dependences of the inelastic integral cross-section for curve-crossing and Demkov type transitions are also discussed. Finally the theory is reviewed in relation to a recent close-coupled study of fine structure transitions in F(2P) + Xe(1S) scattering.

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  1. Theoretical Chemistry Department, 1 South Parks Rd., Oxford, 0X1 3TG, UK

    M. S. Child

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Chimica Fisica, Cittá Universitaria, 00189, Rome, Italy

    Franco A. Gianturco (Professor of Quantum Chemistry, Director of the Adv. Study Inst.) (Professor of Quantum Chemistry, Director of the Adv. Study Inst.)

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© 1982 Plenum Press, New York

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Child, M.S. (1982). Low Energy Atom-Atom Collisions. In: Gianturco, F.A. (eds) Atomic and Molecular Collision Theory. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3312-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3312-8_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3314-2

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