Multiphoton processes in isolated atoms and molecules
The theory of coherent excitation of a multilevel quantum mechanical system is developed. Damping of the system is taken into account by the use of a density matrix formalism. General properties of the wave function and/or the density matrix are discussed. The physical implications for the behavior of the system are described, together with possible applications of the formalism, including the infrared multiphoton excitation of molecules, and optical pumping in alkali atoms. Experimental results are presented on the infrared multiphoton dissociation of molecules, followed by a discussion of the general features of this process. The experimental results were obtained using a crossed laser and molecular beam method, and the emphasis is on determining the properties of the dissociating molecule and the dissociation products. The dissociation process is shown to be described very well by the standard statistical theory (RRKM theory) of unimolecular reactions, a brief presentation of which is also included.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5726055
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-9796
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Multiphoton dissociation of polyatomic molecules
Multiphoton dissociation of polyatomic molecules
Related Subjects
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOMIC BEAMS
BEAMS
COLLISIONS
DISSOCIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
FUNCTIONS
LASER RADIATION
MOLECULAR BEAMS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MOLECULES
OPTICAL PUMPING
PHOTON COLLISIONS
PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS
PHOTON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
RADIATIONS
WAVE FUNCTIONS