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Results for “ATOMIC EXCITATION”

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At least 19 records

Molecular hydrogen formation by excited atom radiative association

The results from a semiclassical calculation of the thermal rate coefficient for the radiative association process H(n = 2) + H(n = 1) - H2 + hv are presented (n is the principal quantum number of the separated hydrogen atoms). The relative importance of this reaction in various environments is briefly discussed. Models of the early universe around the epoch of recombination and protostellar winds have been calculated which include the excited atom process. Not surprisingly, it is shown that the excited atom process will not be important in the general interstellar medium, except possibly in environments where the amount of Ly-alpha photon trapping is large. Examples may be the material surrounding quasars, active galactic nuclei, and bright H II regions. The most likely application of this process might be within rapidly evolving systems where a large transient n = 2 population of neutral hydrogen could result in a burst of molecular hydrogen formation.

Latter, William B.

Laser techniques for spectroscopy of core-excited atomic levels

We discuss three techniques which allow the use of tunable lasers for high resolution and picosecond time scale spectroscopy of core-excited atomic levels. These are: anti-Stokes absorption spectroscopy, laser induced emission from metastable levels, and laser designation of selected core-excited levels.

Harris, S. E.

Casimir-Polder potential on an excited atom near an atomic array

We develop a microscopic description of the fluctuation-mediated Casimir-Polder (CP) shifts on a 'test' two-level atom placed near a two-dimensional atomic array of two-level atoms. We derive the resonant and off-resonant CP potentials experienced by the excited test atom using fourth-order perturbation theory, under the assumption that the test atom resonance is far detuned from those of the array atoms. The total potential on the test atom can be described as the sum of the pairwise resonant and off-resonant potentials resulting from its interaction with the individual atoms of the array. We analyze the asymptotic scaling of CP shifts as a function of the test atom-array separation, and its dependence on various system parameters: array spacing and size, and dipole orientation of the array atoms. Our results bridge the description of CP potential across two distinct regimes: (i) from a single-atom limit where we recover the well-known two-atom Van der Waals potential, (ii) to a macroscopic boundary limit, where we demonstrate new asymptotic scaling laws. We demonstrate that these scaling laws can be tuned via the microscopic parameters of the atomic array, establishing atomically-controlled arrays as a versatile platform for tailoring fluctuation-induced QED phenomena.

FOS: Physical sciences

The formation of excited atoms during charge exchange between hydrogen ions and alkali atoms

The charge exchange cross sections for protons and various alkali atoms are calculated using the classical approximation of Gryzinski. It is assumed that the hydrogen atoms resulting from charge exchange exist in all possible excited states. Charge transfer collisions between protons and potassium as well as protons and sodium atoms are studied. The energy range investigated is between 4 and 30 keV. The theoretical calculations of the capture cross section and the cross section for the creation of metastable 2S hydrogen are compared to experimental values. Good quantitative agreement is found for the capture cross section but only qualitative agreement for the metastable cross section. Analysis of the Lyman alpha window in molecular oxygen suggests that measured values of the metastable cross section may be in error. Thick alkali target data are also presented. This allows the determination of the total electron loss cross section. Finally, some work was done with H2(+).

Nieman, R. A.