Vibrational energy transfer in solutions: From diffusive to impulsive binary collisions

Bony Granek*, Abraham Nitzan, Eric Weitz

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effect of diffusion on energy transfer from excited donor to acceptor molecules in liquid solutions is studied with particular attention focused on vibrational energy transfer between solute molecules in dilute solutions. Such processes are often discussed in the independent binary collision (IBC) framework and diffusion effects are assumed to be negligible. We introduce the concept of diffusive collisions (encounters between acceptor and donor molecule within an effective energy transfer range) and investigate the conditions under which the cross section for the energy transfer process may be affected by the cross section for the diffusive collision as opposed to the more common fast diffusion limit where the energy transfer is dominated by direct binary collisions. We conclude that while in most common situations vibrational energy transfer is indeed dominated by binary collision events, pronounced diffusion effects should exist at moderately high pressures. Explicit estimates are provided for the HCl/Xe system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5589-5597
Number of pages9
JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics
Volume89
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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