Impulse-approximation analysis of collisions between Rydberg and ground-state rubidium atoms at thermal energies

Journal Article · Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.45.6404· OSTI ID:7043652

Fabrikant, I I ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0111 (United States)

The impulse approximation for the Rydberg atom-atom collisions is analyzed on the basis of the Faddeev equations. A modified expression is derived for the cross sections, including the interference between the Rydberg-electron--perturber scattering and the ion-core--perturber scattering. This expression is used for the calculations of the collisional quenching and elastic scattering in Rb({ital nS})-Rb and Rb({ital nP})-Rb collisions. We use the electron-Rb scattering phase shifts obtained from {ital ab} {ital initio} close-coupling calculations and their extrapolation, applying the modified effective-range theory. Our results show that the impulse approximation agrees with the experimental data for the quenching cross sections at {ital n}{gt}20 but underestimates the quenching cross sections at lower {ital n}. The position of the maximum of the cross section is in good agreement with experimental data. We also obtain reasonable results for the elastic cross section at {ital n}{gt}20, but for the lower {ital n} the results are too large. The interference effect plays a minor role in the process, which means that simultaneous electron-perturber and ion-perturber interaction is unlikely.

• OSTI ID: 7043652
• Journal Information: Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States) Vol. 45:9; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

664300* -- Atomic & Molecular Physics-- Collision Phenomena-- (1992-)
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
GROUND STATES
IMPULSE APPROXIMATION
METALS
P STATES
PHASE SHIFT
RUBIDIUM
RYDBERG STATES
S STATES
SCATTERING