Criteria for applicability of the impulse approach to collisions

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.41.6540· OSTI ID:6696895

Sharma, R D ^[1]; Bakshi, P M ^[2]; Sindoni, J M ^[3]

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1. Optical/Infrared Technology Division, Geophysics Laboratory, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts 01731 (USA)
2. Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA (USA)
3. Yap Analytics Incorporated, 594 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA (USA)

Using an exact formulation of impulse approach (IA) to atom-diatom collisions, we assess its internal consistency. By comparing the cross sections in the forward and reverse directions for the vibrational-rotational inelastic processes, using the half-on-the-shell (post and prior) models of the two-body {ital t} matrix, we show that in both cases the IA leads to a violation of the semidetailed balance (SDB) condition for small scattering angles. An off-shell model for the two-body {ital t} matrix, which preserves SDB, is shown to have other serious shortcomings. The cross sections are studied quantitatively as a function of the relative translational energy and the mass of the incident particle, and criteria discussed for the applicability of IA.

• OSTI ID: 6696895
• Journal Information: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA) Vol. 41:11; ISSN PLRAA; ISSN 0556-2791
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
ENERGY DEPENDENCE
IMPULSE APPROXIMATION
MANY-BODY PROBLEM
MATRICES
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
S MATRIX
TWO-BODY PROBLEM