Theory for time resolved emission spectra

Abstract

Explicit equations for the calculation of time resolved emission spectra from molecules undergoing collisional vibrational relaxation are presented. The equations describe the changes of the emission spectrum with time, after a delta pulse excitation. Alternatively, they can be used to obtain the steady state (frequency resolved) emission spectrum as a function of the pressure of added buffer gas. Some model cases are discussed in the light of available experimental data. Non-monotonic dependences of the emission intensity on time and pressure are exhibited which are related in appearance to those expected from quantum mechanical interference effects.