Reaction rate constant for radiative association of CF(.)

Reaction rate constants and cross sections are computed for the radiative association of carbon cations (C(+)) and fluorine atoms (F) in their ground states. We consider reactions through the electronic transition 1(1)Π → X(1)Σ(+) and rovibrational transitions on the X(1)Σ(+) and a(3)Π potentials. Semiclassical and classical methods are used for the direct contribution and Breit-Wigner theory for the resonance contribution. Quantum mechanical perturbation theory is used for comparison. A modified formulation of the classical method applicable to permanent dipoles of unequally charged reactants is implemented. The total rate constant is fitted to the Arrhenius-Kooij formula in five temperature intervals with a relative difference of <3%. The fit parameters will be added to the online database KIDA. For a temperature of 10-250 K, the rate constant is about 10(-21) cm(3) s(-1), rising toward 10(-16) cm(3) s(-1) for a temperature of 30,000 K.

Classical calculations of radiative association in absence of electronic transitions

A formula for the cross section of radiative association where no electronic transitions take place is derived and tested for diatomic molecules. The approach is based on classical mechanics and therefore it is valid for direct, i.e., non-resonant, radiative association. For the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) and the cyano radical (CN), in the X1Σ+ and A1Π states, respectively, the treatment reproduces the baselines of the cross sections obtained using quantum mechanical perturbation theory. The method overestimates the formation cross section of potassium sodide (NaK) by about 8%. For the lower mass diatoms hydrogen fluoride (HF) and deuterium hydride (HD), the formula overestimates the cross sections by 12% and 60%, respectively. The formula can be used alone for estimates of radiative association rate constants, or in combination with Breit-Wigner theory to include resonance contributions.

Classical line shapes based on analytical solutions of bimolecular trajectories in collision induced emission

The classical theory of collision induced emission (CIE) from pairs of dissimilar atoms is studied. This radiation emitted by accelerating dipoles is produced essentially by their overlap and exchange interaction at short range. This classical calculation is based on exact collinear solutions of the trajectories of two spherical particles in a head-on collision under the influence of a Morse potential with a well of arbitrary depth. Without too restrictive conditions a variety of simple solutions in closed form is obtained that illustrates the connection between collision dynamics and CIE. Depending on the well depth and energy of the particles, they may radiate in the far infrared to infrared or visible and shorter wavelength regions. The results are characterized by a fixed total energy. Nevertheless, a connection is demonstrated between the line shape in CIE computed through the trajectory and that based on the emission of a thermally equilibrated system.

Correlation functions in classical gases at high frequency

A general procedure is outlined to determine the exact asymptotic form of spectra in classical gases at high frequency. Examples are the force-force correlation or the velocity autocorrelation function of a tagged particle. For purely repulsive potentials of the form Ar(-n), the asymptotic spectra are proportional to omega(sigma)exp[-(omegatau)(nu)]. Exponent nu and time constant tau depend only on the interparticle potential, while exponent sigma depends in addition on the correlation studied. The analysis makes use of the fact that the high-frequency spectra are dominated by high-energy binary collisions. It is argued that for arbitrary potentials the spectra decay slower than exp(-constxomega(2/3)) and that the results are also relevant for dense fluids. The frequency range is estimated where quantum effects become important.