Date Published:
AUG 22Abstract:
Collision induced spectra allow a characterization of the rate of change of the dipolar asymmetry of the electronic charge distribution. We compute such spectra using classical trajectories but include essential quantal corrections. These corrections are necessary to satisfy the sum rules to leading order in Planck's constant. A corrected computation using classical dynamics for the motion during the collision results when the spectrum is computed from the dipole velocity rather than from the dipole itself. The resulting spectrum is then an asymmetric function of frequency. The Laplace distribution is discussed as a convenient representation of the asymmetric spectrum over both the negative and positive frequency axis. For the emission spectrum the frequency distribution corresponds to the Planck equation with a radiation temperature that is equal to the mean deformation energy of the electronic charge distribution. Therefore, collision induced emission provides a thermometer for the electronic deformation during the collision. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.
