Accurate Calculations of Rotationally Inelastic Scattering Cross Sections Using Mixed Quantum/Classical Theory

Authors

Alexander Semenov, Marquette UniversityFollow
Dmitri Babikov, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

Source Publication

Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

Source ISSN

1948-7185

Abstract

For computational treatment of rotationally inelastic scattering of molecules, we propose to use the mixed quantum/classical theory, MQCT. The old idea of treating translational motion classically, while quantum mechanics is used for rotational degrees of freedom, is developed to the new level and is applied to Na + N₂ collisions in a broad range of energies. Comparison with full-quantum calculations shows that MQCT accurately reproduces all, even minor, features of energy dependence of cross sections, except scattering resonances at very low energies. The remarkable success of MQCT opens up wide opportunities for computational predictions of inelastic scattering cross sections at higher temperatures and/or for polyatomic molecules and heavier quenchers, which is computationally close to impossible within the full-quantum framework.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Vol. 5, No. 2 (2014): 275-278. DOI. © 2014 American Chemical Society Publications. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Semenov, Alexander and Babikov, Dmitri, "Accurate Calculations of Rotationally Inelastic Scattering Cross Sections Using Mixed Quantum/Classical Theory" (2014). Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications. 276.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/chem_fac/276