Stochastic Collision Density Calculations for Hot Hydrogen Atoms in Thermal Xe Mediums. I. Application to Photolytic Hot Atom Experiments

Abstract

Collision density functions have been stochastically computed for photolytically generated hot hydrogen atoms of known initial energy (∼ 0.5–2 eV) relaxing in a thermally equilibrated Xe medium. The collision density functions together with abstraction yield measurements from Xe moderated alkane systems may be used to determine the H–alkane excitation functions. Calculations were carried out for various assumed H–Xe interatomic potentials; and at energies slightly less than the H–source energy, the stochastic results could be accurately represented by very simple, physically meaningful analytical expressions. The latter are shown to be extremely useful in facilitating the evaluation of the excitation function.