Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Berman, P. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Berman, P. R..

Speed-dependent collisional width and shift parameters in spectral profiles.

Derivation of an expression for the spectral profile, termed a speed-dependent Voigt profile (SDVP), taking into account speed-dependent shift and width parameters which are calculated on the basis of an active atom-perturber interaction. It is shown that an analysis of line shapes in terms of simple Voigt profiles (rather than the SDVP) may lead to considerable errors in the determination of characteristic atomic parameters, especially in systems where the perturber to active atom mass ratio is large. It is also noted that the speed-dependent shift leads to an asymmetrical profile, and such a profile is displayed.

Berman, P. R.↗

Quantum-mechanical transport equation for atomic systems.

A quantum-mechanical transport equation (QMTE) is derived which should be applicable to a wide range of problems involving the interaction of radiation with atoms or molecules which are also subject to collisions with perturber atoms. The equation follows the time evolution of the macroscopic atomic density matrix elements of atoms located at classical position R and moving with classical velocity v. It is quantum mechanical in the sense that all collision kernels or rates which appear have been obtained from a quantum-mechanical theory and, as such, properly take into account the energy-level variations and velocity changes of the active (emitting or absorbing) atom produced in collisions with perturber atoms. The present formulation is better suited to problems involving high-intensity external fields, such as those encountered in laser physics.

Berman, P. R.↗