Oscillatory alignment phenomena in Rydberg-atom{endash}rare-gas collisions
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-0225 (United States)
Retention of orbital alignment during near-resonant energy transfer collisions of rare-gas projectiles with excited alkaline-earth-metal atoms is explored theoretically for scattering of Xe from Rydberg states of Ca. For such collisions, conventional interpretations of alignment phenomena, which are based on potential curves for a transient molecule thought to form during the collision, are not relevant. Theoretical partial magnetic sublevel cross sections for Ca{sup {asterisk}{asterisk}}(4s17d{sup 1}D{sub 2}{r_arrow}4s18p{sup 1}P{sub 1}) transitions confirm the existence of alignment effects, as demonstrated experimentally by Spain {ital et al.} [J. Chem. Phys. {bold 102}, 9532 (1995)], at a mean relative velocity of 914 m/s. Theory further predicts heretofore unobserved oscillatory structures in these cross sections as a function of relative velocity and that these oscillations depend strongly on the initial magnetic quantum number of the Rydberg electron. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
- OSTI ID:
- 565821
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review A, Journal Name: Physical Review A Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 57; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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