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At least 109 records · Page 6

Classical electromagnetic radiation of the Dirac electron

A wave-function-dependent four-vector potential is added to the Dirac equation in order to achieve conservation of energy and momentum for a Dirac electron and its emitted electromagnetic field. The resultant equation contains solutions which describe transitions between different energy states of the electron. As a consequence it is possible to follow the space-time evolution of such a process. This evolution is shown in the case of the spontaneous emission of an electromagnetic field by an electron bound in a hydrogen-like atom. The intensity of the radiation and the spectral distribution are calculated for transitions between two eigenstates. The theory gives a self-consistent deterministic description of some simple radiation processes without using quantum electrodynamics or the correspondence principle.

Lanyi, G.↗

Total Born approximation cross sections for single electron loss by atoms and ions colliding with atoms

The first born approximation (FBA) is applied to the calculation of single electron loss cross sections for various ions and atoms containing from one to seven electrons. Screened hydrogenic wave functions were used for the states of the electron ejected from the projectile, and Hartree-Fock elastic and incoherent scattering factors were used to describe the target. The effect of the target atom on the scaling of projectile ionization cross sections with respect to the projectile nuclear charge was explored in the case of hydrogen-like ions. Scaling of the cross section with respect to the target nuclear charge for electron loss by Fe (+25) in collision with neutral atoms ranging from H to Fe is also examined. These results were compared to those of the binary encounter approximation and to the FBA for the case of ionization by completely stripped target ions.

Rule, D. W.↗

Total Born-approximation cross sections for single-electron loss by atoms and ions colliding with atoms

The first Born approximation (FBA) is applied to the calculation of single-electron-loss cross sections for various ions and atoms containing from one to seven electrons. Screened hydrogenic wave functions are used for the states of the electron ejected from the projectile, and Hartree-Fock elastic and incoherent scattering factors are used to describe the target. The effect of the target atom on the scaling of projectile ionization cross sections with respect to the projectile nuclear charge is explored in the case of hydrogenlike ions. Also examined is the scaling of the cross section with respect to the target nuclear charge for electron loss by Fe(25+) in collision with neutral atoms ranging from H to Fe. These results are compared with those of the binary-encounter approximation (BEA) and with the FBA for the case of ionization by completely stripped target ions. Electron-loss cross sections are also calculated for the ions O(i+) (i = 3-7) and N(i+) (i = 0-6) in collision with He targets in the energy range of approximately 0.1 to 100 MeV/nucleon. These results are found to be in excellent agreement with the available data near the peak of the ionization cross section.

Rule, D. W.↗

Orbital electron capture by the nucleus

The theory of nuclear electron capture is reviewed in the light of current understanding of weak interactions. Experimental methods and results regarding capture probabilities, capture ratios, and EC/Beta(+) ratios are summarized. Radiative electron capture is discussed, including both theory and experiment. Atomic wave function overlap and electron exchange effects are covered, as are atomic transitions that accompany nuclear electron capture. Tables are provided to assist the reader in determining quantities of interest for specific cases.

Bambynek, W.↗

Free-Free Transitions in the Presence of Laser Fields at Very Low Incident Electron Energy

We study the free-free transition in electron-hydrogenic systems in ground state in presence of an external laser field at very low incident energies. The laser field is treated classically while the collision dynamics is treated quantum mechanically. The laser field is chosen to be monochromatic, linearly polarized and homogeneous. The incident electron is considered to be dressed by the laser in a nonperturbative manner by choosing a Volkov wave function for it The scattering wave function for the electron is solved numerically by taking into account the effect of the electron exchange, short-range as well as of the long-range interactions to get the S and P wave phase shifts while for the higher angular momentum phase shifts, the exchange approximation has only been considered. We calculate the laser-assisted differential cross sections (LADCS) for the aforesaid free-free transition process for single photon absorption/emission. The laser intensity is chosen to be much less than the atomic field intensity. A strong suppression is noted in the LADCS as compared to the field free (FF) cross sections. Unlike the FF ones, the LADCS exhibit some oscillations having a distinct maximum at a low value of the scattering angle depending on the laser parameters as well as on the incident energies.

Bhatia, Anand K.↗

Diffusion Monte Carlo approaches for studying nuclear quantum effects in fluxional molecules

Abstract Diffusion quantum Monte Carlo (DMC) provides a powerful approach for obtaining the ground state energy and wave function of molecules, ions, and molecular clusters. The approach is uniquely well suited for studies of fluxional molecules, which undergo large amplitude vibrational motions even in their ground state. In contrast to the electronic structure problem, where the wave function must be antisymmetric with respect to exchange of any pair of electrons, the wave function for the ground vibrational state is nodeless. This greatly simplifies the application of DMC for vibrational problems. Because there is not a single potential function that can be used to describe the intramolecular and intermolecular interactions in all molecular systems, most methods that are used to describe nuclear quantum effects rely on a carefully chosen zero‐order description of the molecular vibrations. In contrast, DMC calculations can be performed in Cartesian coordinates, making the DMC algorithm easily transferable between different chemical systems. In this contribution, the theory that underlies DMC will be discussed along with important considerations for performing DMC calculations. Extensions for evaluating vibrationally excited states and molecular properties are also discussed. Insights that can be obtained from DMC calculations are illustrated in the context of the protonated water clusters. This article is categorized under: Molecular and Statistical Mechanics > Molecular Dynamics and Monte‐Carlo Methods Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Spectroscopy

Chemistry↗

Low-Lying Excited States of Linear All- Trans Polyenes: Insights from Analytic Gradient and Nonadiabatic Coupling Calculations Based on Multireference Configuration Interaction

Polyenes serve as a rigorous test for theoretical models and electronic structure methods, playing a key role in advancing computational and theoretical chemistry. Here, we present a high-level theoretical investigation of linear, all-trans polyenes using energy gradients and nonadiabatic coupling vectors based on an MR-CISD wave function to describe electronic transitions involving the ground state (1 1 A g – ) and three low-lying excited states (2 1 A g – , 1 1 B u + , and 2 1 B u – ) of hexatriene, octatetraene, and decapentaene. This approach enables accurate evaluation of both adiabatic and vertical excitation and emission energies, yielding results in excellent agreement with experiment, as well as locating minima on the crossing seam between adiabatic states. Our results show that vertical excitation energies to the 1 1 B u + state are blue-shifted by 0.2–0.3 eV relative to the experimental absorption maximum, whereas the vertical emission energy from the 2 1 A g – state is red-shifted by ∼0.2 eV relative to the experimental emission maximum. Upon relaxation from the Franck–Condon geometry, the 2 1 A g – state stabilizes by around 1 eV, compared to 0.2–0.3 eV for the 1 1 B u + state. An analysis of the S 1 /S 0 crossing seam in hexatriene shows that its minimum involves asymmetric backbone deformations and provides an efficient channel for ultrafast internal conversion to the ground state, consistent with the absence of detectable fluorescence in this molecule. These results demonstrate the power of analytic gradients and nonadiabatic coupling vectors based on an MR-CISD wave function for accurately characterizing the electronic structure and photophysics of polyenes.

Excited states↗

Landau-level composition of bound exciton states in magnetic field

Here, we present a theory that studies the state composition of a bound exciton in magnetic field. Using a basis set made of products of free electron and hole wave functions in Landau gauge, we derive a secular equation which shows the relation between Landau levels (LLs) of the electron and hole when a bound exciton is formed. Focusing on excitons in the light cone, we establish a scattering selection rule for the interaction of an electron in LL 𝑛 e with a hole in LL 𝑛 h . We solve the resulting secular equation and identify a simple pairing law, 𝑛 e =𝑛 h +𝑙, which informs us on the construction of a bound exciton state with magnetic quantum number 𝑙, and on the interaction of the exciton magnetic moment with magnetic field. We obtain good agreement between theory results and recent measurements of the diamagnetic shifts of exciton states in WSe 2 monolayers.

2-dimensional systems↗

All-optical control of charge transfer and interlayer excitons in transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructures

An all-optical approach to control interlayer charge transfer and interlayer exciton dynamics is demonstrated using transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructures of MoSe 2 /MoS 2 and MoSe 2 /WS 2 as examples. In the three-pulse pump-probe experiments, a control pulse injects photocarriers and produces an electric field due to the interlayer charge separation. A pump pulse excites new carriers and their dynamics under the influence of the control-injected carriers and field is time-resolved by measuring differential reflectance of a third probe pulse. In MoSe 2 /MoS 2 , the interlayer electron transfer time from MoSe 2 to MoS 2 decreases with increasing the control-injected carrier density and electric field. The dipole moment of the interlayer excitons is reduced by the control pulse, which can be utilized for ultrafast and all-optical control of interlayer excitons. The recombination of the interlayer excitons is enhanced by the control pulse, which increases the spatial overlap of the electron and hole wave functions. The effect of the control pulse on the interlayer excitons is confirmed in the MoSe 2 /WS 2 heterostructure, although its effect on the electron transfer time is not resolvable. Furthermore, these results reveal useful information to understand and control interlayer charge transfer dynamics and provide tools for ultrafast manipulation of electrons in van der Waals heterostructures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Laser Assisted Free-Free Transition in Electron - Atom Collision

Free-free transition is studied for electron-Hydrogen atom system in ground state at very low incident energies in presence of an external homogeneous, monochromatic and linearly polarized laser field. The incident electron is considered to be dressed by the laser in a non perturbative manner by choosing the Volkov solutions in both the channels. The space part of the scattering wave function for the electron is solved numerically by taking into account the effect of electron exchange, short range as well as of the long range interactions. Laser assisted differential as well as elastic total cross sections are calculated for single photon absorption/emission in the soft photon limit, the laser intensity being much less than the atomic field intensity. A strong suppression is noted in the laser assisted cross sections as compared to the field free situations. Significant difference is noted in the singlet and the triplet cross sections.

Sinha, C.↗

Free-Free Transitions of e-H System Inside a Dense Plasma Irradiated by a Laser Field at Very Low Incident Electron Energies

The free-free transition is studied for an electron-hydrogen in the ground state at low incident energies in the presence of an external homogenous, monochromatic, and linearly polarized laser-field inside a hot dense plasma.The effect of plasma screening is considered in the Debye-Huckel approximation. The calculations are performed in the soft photon limit, assuming that the plasma frequency is much higher than the laser frequency. The incident electron is considered to be dressed by the laser field in a nonperturbative manner by choosing the Volkov solutions in both the initial and final channels. The space part of the scattering wave function for the electron is solved numerically by taking into account the electron exchange. The laser-assisted differential and total cross sections are calculated for single-photon absorption /emission and no photon exchange in the soft photon limit, the laser intensity being much less than the atomic field intensity. The calculations have been carried out for various values of Debye parameter, ranging from 0.005 to 0.12. A strong suppression is noted in the laser-assisted cross sections as compared to the field-free situation. A significant difference is noted for the singlet and triplet cross sections. The suppression is much more in the triplet states.

Bhatia, A. K.↗

Free-Free Transitions of the e-H System Inside a Dense Plasma Irradiated by a Laser Field at Very Low Incident-Electron Energies

The free-free transition is studied for an electron-hydrogen atom in ground state when a low-energy electron (external) is injected into hydrogenic plasma in the presence of an external homogenous, monochromatic, and linearly polarized laser field. The effect of plasma screening is considered in the Debye-Huckel approximation. The calculations are performed in the soft photon limit. The incident electron is considered to be dressed by the laser field in a nonperturbative manner by choosing the Volkov solutions in both the initial and final channels. The space part of the scattering wave function for the electron is solved numerically by taking into account the electron exchange. The laser-assisted differential and total cross sections are calculated for single-photon absorption or emission and no-photon exchange in the soft photon limit, the laser intensity being much less than the atomic field intensity. The calculations have been carried out for various values of Debye parameter, ranging from 0.005 to 0.12. A strong suppression is noted in the laser-assisted cross sections as compared to the field-free situation. A significant difference is noted for the singlet and triplet cross sections. The suppression is much more in the triplet states.

Bhatia, A. K.↗

Entropy-Driven Charge Separation: A Potential Explanation for the Low Energy Loss Found in OPVs with Non-fullerene Acceptors

The recent development of non-fullerene acceptors (NFA) has led to an abrupt increase in the organic photovoltaic (OPV) efficiency from ~12% to ~20%. NFA OPVs can generate photocurrent efficiently without much energy loss, which contrasts with the large energy loss often needed for generating free charges from excitons in fullerene OPVs. Here, we argue that entropy-driven charge separation, which allows excitons to spontaneously gain heat from the environment, is responsible for the exceptionally low energy loss found in NFA OPVs. The entropic driving force is maximized when the delocalized electron and hole wave functions in the CT exciton intersect each other via pointlike junctions. Furthermore, these pointlike junctions are abundant in the polymer/NFA bulk heterojunction which consists of intertwined, stringlike donor and acceptor domains in which electron delocalizes anisotropically. Such microstructure favors entropy-driven charge separation, which can enable charge separation with a minimal energy loss.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Chirality transfer from chiral perovskite to molecular dopants via charge transfer states

Chiral perovskites are semiconductors with broken mirror symmetries. Their photo responses are often constrained in the UV range. In this work, we demonstrate that doping 2,3,5,6-Tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane in the chiral perovskite matrix introduces a visible light absorption feature through the emerging charge-transfer electronic states. These charge-transfer states exhibits circular dichroism inherited from the chiral host, indicating effective chirality transfer from host to guest component via electronic coupling. Quantum-chemical modeling identifies a strong wave function overlap between an electron and a hole of the guest-host in a closely packed crystal configuration promoting the charge transfer state’s optical activity. We further integrate the doped chiral perovskite film into photodetectors and demonstrate a selective detection of circularly polarized light in both UV and visible regions. Our results suggest a universal approach of introducing visible photo absorption states to the chiral matrix to broaden the optical active range while enhancing the electrical conductivity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Calculation of the total electron excitation cross section in the Born approximation using Slater wave functions for the Li (2s yields 2p), Li (2s yields 3p), Na (3s yields 4p), Mg (3p yields 4s), Ca (4s yields 4p) and K (4s yields 4p) excitations

Excitation of neutral atoms by inelastic scattering of incident electrons in gaseous nebulae were investigated using Slater Wave functions to describe the initial and final states of the atom. Total cross sections using the Born Approximation are calculated for: Li(2s yields 2p), Na(3s yields 4p), k(4s yields 4p). The intensity of emitted radiation from gaseous nebulae is also calculated, and Maxwell distribution is employed to average the kinetic energy of electrons.

Simsic, P. L.↗