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De Gruyter eBooks

Redistribution -- Why Half a Collision is Better Than a Whole One

J. Cooper

Published Dec 31, 1983• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The study of spectral line shapes has traditionally been mainly concerned with the measurement and interpretation of absorption or emission profiles. Often only the line widths are studied. The present investigation has the objective to evaluate the additional information which can be obtained by scattering light (usually from a laser) from an atomic system which is being perturbed by collisions. A scattering experiment is discussed. The scattered light consists of two components, a (coherent) Rayleigh component and a redistributed (fluorescent) component. In order to obtain the absorption spectrum, questions regarding the probability of photon absorption are considered. By observing the fluorescence subsequent to absorption during a collision it is found possible to obtain information on the evolution of the system from the point of absorption to the completion of the collision. The information on the intracollisional evolution is the justification for the title of the study, namely 'Why half a collision is better than a whole one'.

DOI
10.1515/9783110852974-054

Related papers

Collisional redistribution of radiation. II. The effects of degeneracy on the equations of motion for the density matrix

Keith R. Burnett, J. Cooper

We apply the analysis of paper I to degenerate atomic systems and calculate the effect of correlations between an atom (the absorber) and perturbers in the binary-collision approximation. The result of our calculation is a generalized absorption profile that specifies the final state of the atom an absorption event. This profile is then related to the total intensities of Rayleigh scattering and fluorescence (redistributed radiation) from the atom. The profile is expressed in terms of collision operators that depend on the index of the multipole of the atom that is created. Some of the operators represent correlations between radiative and collisional events and cannot, except in certain limits, be expressed in terms of the usual line-broadening operators. This, of course, implies that one needs extra dynamical information, on top of that obtainable from ordinary absorption experiments, to be able to describe redistribution. Conversely, redistribution offers a probe of collisional dynamics, not given by absorption experiments, via the polarization of fluorescent light. We give practical expressions for the calculation of these operators and discuss their implications.

Physical Review A•Nov 1, 1980•65 citations

Redistributed spectrum of scattered light

E L Lewis, Daryl Szebesta

The spectrum of redistributed light that results from excitation by monochromatic near-resonant incident light has been observed in calcium perturbed by argon. The two components were found to be well described by the astrophysical redistribution functions ${\mathit{R}}_{\mathrm{II}}$ and ${\mathit{R}}_{\mathrm{III}}$ for the Rayleigh and fluorescent peaks, respectively. The Doppler width of the Rayleigh component was observed to be \ensuremath{\surd}2 larger than that of the fluorescent component, for our observation at right angle to the incident beam, clearly demonstrating the coherence of this part of the scattering. The ratio of fluorescent to Rayleigh intensity was independent of detuning within our range, which was well within the impact region, and increased linearly with argon pressure in a manner that is consistent with an identification of the cross section for redistributing collisions with that for line broadening.

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Observation of Dynamic Correlations in Collisional Redistribution and Depolarization of Light

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Theory shows that to explain the polarization of light collisionally redistributed from the far line wings of an atomic transition, one must consider correlated events in which absorption during a collision, and propagation to the final Zeeman-state superposition at the end of the collision is important. Polarizations of up to about 40% have been measured in the far line wings, substantially confirming this prediction, and showing that scattering experiments cannot just be characterized by simple absorption or emission profiles.

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Redistribution of scattered radiation by collisions in the nonimpact region of the spectral line profile

Jon C. Cooper

The scattering of radiation in the presence of collisions can be described quantum-mechanically in terms of essentially two processes. The first may be thought of as an absorption to the excited state followed subsequently (after propagating in the excited state) by emission. This gives rise to radiation redistributed about the transition frequency. The effects of m-degeneracy are particularly interesting for this first process. As an example a case is considered in which the incident frequency is in the quasi-static line wing, while the scattered frequency is close to the line center. It is found that under these circumstances the dominant contribution from this process in the scattered spectrum is obtained for an absorption of the incident frequency taking place during a strong (close) collision and reemission of the scattered frequency when the atom is essentially unperturbed

The Astrophysical Journal•Feb 1, 1979•42 citations

Collisional redistribution of radiation. II - The effects of degeneracy on the equations of motion for the density matrix. III - The equation of motion for the correlation function and the scattered spectrum

Keith R. Burnett, J. Cooper

The effect of correlations between an absorber atom and perturbers in the binary-collision approximation are applied to degenerate atomic systems. A generalized absorption profile which specifies the final state of the atom after an absorption event is related to the total intensities of Rayleigh scattering and fluorescence from the atom. It is suggested that additional dynamical information to that obtainable from ordinary absorption experiments is required in order to describe redistributed atomic radiation. The scattering of monochromatic radiation by a degenerate atom is computed in a binary-collision approximation; an equation of motion is derived for the correlation function which is valid outside the quantum-regression regime. Solutions are given for the weak-field conditions in terms of generalized absorption and emission profiles that depend on the indices of the atomic multipoles.

Physical Review A•Nov 1, 1980•0 citations

Redistribution - Why half a collision is better than a whole one. [spectra of scattered light from perturbed atomic system]

Jon C. Cooper

•Jan 1, 1983•0 citations
The study of spectral line shapes has traditionally been mainly concerned with the measurement and interpretation of absorption or emission profiles. Often only the line widths are studied. The present investigation has the objective to evaluate the additional information which can be obtained by scattering light (usually from a laser) from an atomic system which is being perturbed by collisions. A scattering experiment is discussed. The scattered light consists of two components, a (coherent) Rayleigh component and a redistributed (fluorescent) component. In order to obtain the absorption spectrum, questions regarding the probability of photon absorption are considered. By observing the fluorescence subsequent to absorption during a collision it is found possible to obtain information on the evolution of the system from the point of absorption to the completion of the collision. The information on the intracollisional evolution is the justification for the title of the study, namely 'Why half a collision is better than a whole one'.
We apply the analysis of paper I to degenerate atomic systems and calculate the effect of correlations between an atom (the absorber) and perturbers in the binary-collision approximation. The result of our calculation is a generalized absorption profile that specifies the final state of the atom an absorption event. This profile is then related to the total intensities of Rayleigh scattering and fluorescence (redistributed radiation) from the atom. The profile is expressed in terms of collision operators that depend on the index of the multipole of the atom that is created. Some of the operators represent correlations between radiative and collisional events and cannot, except in certain limits, be expressed in terms of the usual line-broadening operators. This, of course, implies that one needs extra dynamical information, on top of that obtainable from ordinary absorption experiments, to be able to describe redistribution. Conversely, redistribution offers a probe of collisional dynamics, not given by absorption experiments, via the polarization of fluorescent light. We give practical expressions for the calculation of these operators and discuss their implications.
The spectrum of redistributed light that results from excitation by monochromatic near-resonant incident light has been observed in calcium perturbed by argon. The two components were found to be well described by the astrophysical redistribution functions RII{\mathit{R}}_{\mathrm{II}}RII​ and RIII{\mathit{R}}_{\mathrm{III}}RIII​ for the Rayleigh and fluorescent peaks, respectively. The Doppler width of the Rayleigh component was observed to be \ensuremath{\surd}2 larger than that of the fluorescent component, for our observation at right angle to the incident beam, clearly demonstrating the coherence of this part of the scattering. The ratio of fluorescent to Rayleigh intensity was independent of detuning within our range, which was well within the impact region, and increased linearly with argon pressure in a manner that is consistent with an identification of the cross section for redistributing collisions with that for line broadening.
Theory shows that to explain the polarization of light collisionally redistributed from the far line wings of an atomic transition, one must consider correlated events in which absorption during a collision, and propagation to the final Zeeman-state superposition at the end of the collision is important. Polarizations of up to about 40% have been measured in the far line wings, substantially confirming this prediction, and showing that scattering experiments cannot just be characterized by simple absorption or emission profiles.
The scattering of radiation in the presence of collisions can be described quantum-mechanically in terms of essentially two processes. The first may be thought of as an absorption to the excited state followed subsequently (after propagating in the excited state) by emission. This gives rise to radiation redistributed about the transition frequency. The effects of m-degeneracy are particularly interesting for this first process. As an example a case is considered in which the incident frequency is in the quasi-static line wing, while the scattered frequency is close to the line center. It is found that under these circumstances the dominant contribution from this process in the scattered spectrum is obtained for an absorption of the incident frequency taking place during a strong (close) collision and reemission of the scattered frequency when the atom is essentially unperturbed
The effect of correlations between an absorber atom and perturbers in the binary-collision approximation are applied to degenerate atomic systems. A generalized absorption profile which specifies the final state of the atom after an absorption event is related to the total intensities of Rayleigh scattering and fluorescence from the atom. It is suggested that additional dynamical information to that obtainable from ordinary absorption experiments is required in order to describe redistributed atomic radiation. The scattering of monochromatic radiation by a degenerate atom is computed in a binary-collision approximation; an equation of motion is derived for the correlation function which is valid outside the quantum-regression regime. Solutions are given for the weak-field conditions in terms of generalized absorption and emission profiles that depend on the indices of the atomic multipoles.