THEORY OF ABSORPTION LINE SHAPES IN MONATOMIC GASES. I: GENERAL FORMULATION AND APPROXIMATE SOLUTIONS
Abstract
A formalism is developed for calculating the complex refractive index of a monatomic gas as a function of frequency in the region of an ab sorption. The treatment involves a direct study of the properties of the dressed photon state in the gas, and includes effects due to trans lational motion of the atoms as well as the dipolar 'resonance' interactions between them. It is necessary to assume that the electromag netic properties of the gas are descr-ble in some detail by a linear frequency- and wave number-dependent susceptibility. A set of coupled nonlinear integral equations are derived which together determine the susceptibility func tion and hence the observable refractive index. The 'static' limit of large atomic mass is con sidered in some detail, and a first correction to it is also obtained. The results are com pared with measurements by Tomiser on the line widths of the sodium D-line at various tempera tures and pressures. We obtain qualitative agreement, while previous theoretical linewidths were too small by a factor of order 1000.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0414123
Entities
People
- C. Alden Mead
- Gene P. Reck
- Hisao Takebe
Organizations
- University of Minnesota