Elastic collision

Abstract: Sputtering of a target by energetic ions or recoil atoms is assumed to result from cascades of atomic collisions. The sputtering yield is calculated under the assumption of random slowing down in an infinite medium. An integrodifferential equation for the yield is developed from the general Boltzmann transport equation. Input quantities are the cross sections for ion-target and target-target collisions, and atomic binding energies. Solutions of the integral equation are given that are asymptotically exact in the limit of high ion energy as compared to atomic binding energies. Two main stages of the collision cascade have to be distinguished: first, the slowing down of the primary ion and all recoiling atoms that have comparable energies---these particles determine the spatial extent of the cascade; second, the creation and slowing down of low-energy recoils that constitute the major part of all atoms set in motion. The separation between the two stages is essentially complete in the limit of high ion energy, as far as the calculation of the sputtering yield is concerned. High-energy collisions are characterized by Thomas-Fermi-type cross sections, while a Born-Mayer-type cross section is applied in the low-energy region. Electronic stopping is included when necessary. The separation of the cascade into two distinct stages has the consequence that two characteristic depths are important for the qualitative understanding of the sputtering process. First, the scattering events that eventually lead to sputtering take place within a certain layer near the surface, the thickness of which depends on ion mass and energy and on ion-target geometry. In the elastic collision region, this thickness is a sizable fraction of the ion range. Second, the majority of sputtered particles originate from a very thin surface layer (\ensuremath{\sim}5 \AA{}), because small energies dominate. The general sputtering-yield formula is applied to specific situations that are of interest for comparison with experiment. These include backsputtering of thick targets by ion beams at perpendicular and oblique incidence and ion energies above \ensuremath{\sim}100 eV, transmission sputtering of thin foils, sputtering by recoil atoms from $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-active atoms distributed homogeneously or inhomogeneously in a thick target, sputtering of fissionable specimens by fission fragments, and sputtering of specimens that are irradiated in the core of a reactor or bombarded with a neutron beam. There is good agreement with experimental results on polycrystalline targets within the estimated accuracy of the data and the input parameters entering the theory. There is no need for adjustable parameters in the usual sense, but specific experimental setups are discussed that allow independent checks or accurate determination of some input quantities.

Abstract: Interstellar Matter-- An Overview. Elastic Collisions and Kinetic Equilibrium. Radiative Processes. Excitation. Ionization and Dissociation. Kinetic Temperature. Optical Properties of Grains. Polarization and Grain Alignment. Physical Properties of Grains. Dynamical Principles. Overall Equilibrium. Explosive Motions. Gravitational Motion. Symbols. Index.

Abstract: A mixed algorithm for Monte Carlo simulation of relativistic electron and positron transport in matter is described. Cross sections for the different interaction mechanisms are approximated by expressions that permit the generation of random tracks by using purely analytical methods. Hard elastic collisions, with scattering angle greater than a preselected cutoff value, and hard inelastic collisions and radiative events, with energy loss larger than given cutoff values, are simulated in detail. Soft interactions, with scattering angle or energy loss less than the corresponding cutoffs, are simulated by means of multiple scattering approaches. This algorithm handles lateral displacements correctly and completely avoids difficulties related with interface crossing. The simulation is shown to be stable under variations of the adopted cutoffs; these can be made quite large, thus speeding up the simulation considerably, without altering the results. The reliability of the algorithm is demonstrated through a comparison of simulation results with experimental data. Good agreement is found for electrons and positrons with kinetic energies down to a few keV.

Abstract: A semiclassical theory of the width and shift of isolated infrared and Raman lines in the gas phase is developed within the impact approximation. A parabolic trajectory model determined by the isotropic part of the interaction potential allows a satisfactory treatment to be made of the close collisions leading to an analytical expression for the elastic collision cross section. A numerical test of this theory has been made for HCl-Ar by comparing the present results to those of previous infinite order treatments using numerical curved classical trajectories. Extension to the diatom-diatom collisions is then made by expressing the anisotropic potential using an atom-atom interaction model which takes both the long and short range contributions into account. Numerical applications have been performed for the Raman line widths of pure N2, CO2 and CO and for the infrared line widths of pure CO and of CO perturbed by N2 and CO2. A good quantitative agreement with experiments is obtained for all the considered cases and a correct variation of the broadening coefficient with the rotational quantum number is achieved in opposition to the previous results. A consistent variation of the line broadening with temperature is also obtained even for high rotational levels.