Breaking Paradigms In Atomic And Molecular Physics

by Eugene Oks

Overview

The book presents the following counterintuitive theoretical results breaking several paradigms of quantum mechanics and providing alternative interpretations of some important phenomena in atomic and molecular physics. 1) Singular solutions of the Schrödinger and Dirac equations should not have been always rejected: they can explain the experimental high-energy tail of the linear momentum distribution in the ground state of hydrogenic atoms. Application: a unique way to test intimate details of the nuclear structure by performing atomic (rather than nuclear) experiments and calculations. 2) Charge exchange is not really an inherently quantal phenomenon, but rather has classical roots. Application: continuum lowering in plasmas. 3) The most challenging problem of classical physics that led to the development of quantum mechanics — the failure to explain the stability of atoms — can be solved within a classical formalism that has its roots in Dirac's works. The underlying physics can be interpreted as a non-Einsteinian time dilation. 4) In two-electron atoms/ions, the spin-spin interaction (singular in its nature), usually considered unimportant, makes a significant contribution to the binding energy. 5) In magnetized plasmas the standard Inglis-Teller concept, concerning the number of observed lines in spectral series of hydrogen, breaks down. Application: new plasma diagnostic. 6) Extrema in transition energies of molecules/quasimiolecules can result in dips (rather than usually considered satellites) within spectral lines. Application: the experimental determination of rates of charge exchange between multicharged ions — important for magnetic fusion in Tokamaks, for population inversion in the soft x-ray and VUV ranges, for ion storage devices, and for astrophysics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789814619929
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/18/2015
Pages:	196
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Chapter 2 Role of Singular Solutions of Quantal Equations in Atomic Physics 5

2.1 A Long-Standing Mystery of the High-Energy Tail of the Linear Momentum Distribution in the Ground State of Hydrogen Atoms or Hydrogen-Like Ions (GSHA) 5

2.2 Early, Unsuccessful Attempts to Explain the mystery 10

2.3 Singular Solutions: General Results on Classes of Potentials to Which They are Applicable 13

2.4 Engaging Singular Solutions for the Successful Explanation of the Mystery 15

2.5 Opening a Way to Test Intimate Details of the Nuclear Structure by Performing Atomic, Rather than Nuclear, Experiments 17

Chapter 3 Classical Description of Crossings of Energy Terms and of Charge Exchange 19

3.1 Brief History and Importance of the Corresponding Studies 19

3.2 Helical States of Diatomic Rydberg Quasimolecules 22

3.3 Crossings of Classical Energy Terms of Diatomic Rydberg Quasimolecules 28

3.4 Effects of a Static Magnetic Field: Stabilization of Diatomic Rydberg Quasimolecules 34

3.5 Effects of a Static Electric Field on Diatomic Rydberg Quasimolecules: Enhancement of Charge Exchange and of Ionization 42

3.6 Effects of the Screening by Plasma Electrons on Diatomic Rydberg Quasimolecules 51

3.7 Applications to CL in Plasmas 63

Chapter 4 Classical Stationary States and non-Einsteinian Time Dilation: Generalized Hamiltonian Dynamics (GHD) 71

4.1 GHD for the Motion in the Coulomb Potential 71

4.2 Extending GHD to the Motion in a Modified Coulomb Potential 82

Chapter 5 Underestimated Role of the Singular Spin-Spin Interaction in the Binding Energy of Two-Electron Atoms/Ions 93

Chapter 6 The Last Observed Line in the Spectral Series of Hydrogen Lines in Magnetized Plasmas: Revision of Inglis Teller Concept 99

Chapter 7 Extrema in Transition Energies Resulting Not in Satellites But in Dips Within Spectral Lines 107

7.1 Breaking the Paradigm and Revealing Charge-Exchange-Caused Dips (x-dips) 107

7.2 Classical Model of x-Dips 116

7.3 Advanced Quantal Theories of x-Dips 119

7.4 Practical Applications: Experimental Determinations of the Rates of Charge Exchange Between Multicharged Ions Using Observed x-Dips 127

7.5 Future Prospects 131

Chapter 8 Conclusions 137

Appendix A Classical Description of Muonic-Electronic Negative Hydrogen Ion in Circular States 141

Appendix B Helical and Circular States of Diatomic Rydberg Quasimolecules in a Laser Field 157

References 169