Equilibrium quantum distribution

This relationship defines the following three equilibrium quantum distributions... 

Transition state theory assumes an equilibrium energy distribution among all possible quantum states at all points along the reaction coordinate. The probability of finding a molecule in a given quantum state is proportional to which is a Boltzmann... 

The examples cited above are only two of the many possible cases of H-bond isomerization. Because of the low kinetic barriers separating these species, equilibration of H-bonded isomer populations to limiting thermodynamic values is generally expected to be much faster than for covalent isomers. Methods of quantum statistical thermodynamics can be used to calculate partition functions and equilibrium population distributions for H-bonded isomers,41 just as in the parallel case for covalent isomers and conformers. 

In the high-pressure limit, at which the molecules have the equilibrium thermal distribution of energies, we can use the quantum-mechanical distribution function for P E) [Eq. (IX.6.1)]. 

In the statistical theory of RICE, RAMSBERGER, KASSEL, and MARCUS (RRKM), an equilibrium-energy distribution among the vibrational-rotational degrees of freedom is assumed for both the activated molecule (for which E>E ) and the "activated complex (for which E >E ). Quantum effects, such as sudden change of the electronic sta-... 

Fig. 2.3 Radiative processes of spontaneous emission and stimulated emission and absorption between quantum levels e) and i), which control the equilibrium (Boltzmann) population of levels due to radiative interaction with the equilibrium (Planck) distribution J(uj) of the photon energies of black-body radiation. Spontaneous emission happens in all directions, but stimulated emission occurs in the direction of the incident radiation.

In the previous section we discussed light and matter at equilibrium in a two-level quantum system. For the remainder of this section we will be interested in light and matter which are not at equilibrium. In particular, laser light is completely different from the thennal radiation described at the end of the previous section. In the first place, only one, or a small number of states of the field are occupied, in contrast with the Planck distribution of occupation numbers in thennal radiation. Second, the field state can have a precise phase-, in thennal radiation this phase is assumed to be random. If multiple field states are occupied in a laser they can have a precise phase relationship, something which is achieved in lasers by a teclmique called mode-locking Multiple frequencies with a precise phase relation give rise to laser pulses in time. Nanosecond experiments... 

For the quantum mechanical case, p and Ware operators (or matrices in appropriate representation) and the Poisson bracket is replaced by the connnutator [W, p] If the distribution is stationary, as for the systems in equilibrium, then Bp/dt = 0, which implies... 

The above derivation leads to the identification of the canonical ensemble density distribution. More generally, consider a system with volume V andA particles of type A, particles of type B, etc., such that N = Nj + Ag +. . ., and let the system be in themial equilibrium with a much larger heat reservoir at temperature T. Then if fis tlie system Hamiltonian, the canonical distribution is (quantum mechanically)... 

Figure A3.13.16. Illustration of the level populations (eorresponding to the C-C oseillator states) from various treatments in the model of figure A3.13.15 for C2Hg at a total energy E = (he) 41 000 em and a tlneshold energy = (he) 31 000 em The pomts are mieroeanonieal equilibrium distributions. The erosses result from the solution of the master equation for IVR at steady state and the lines are thennal populations at the temperatures indieated (from [38] quant, is ealeulated with quantum densities of states, elass. with elassieal meehanieal densities.).

The overall OD vibrational distribution from the HOD photodissociation resembles that from the D2O photodissociation. Similarly, the OH vibrational distribution from the HOD photodissociation is similar to that from the H2O photodissociation. There are, however, notable differences for the OD products from HOD and D2O, similarly for the OH products from HOD and H2O. It is also clear that rotational temperatures are all quite cold for all OH (OD) products. From the above experimental results, the branching ratio of the H and D product channels from the HOD photodissociation can be estimated, since the mixed sample of H2O and D2O with 1 1 ratio can quickly reach equilibrium with the exact ratios of H2O, HOD and D2O known to be 1 2 1. Because the absorption spectrum of H2O at 157nm is a broadband transition, we can reasonably assume that the absorption cross-sections are the same for the three water isotopomer molecules. It is also quite obvious that the quantum yield of these molecules at 157 nm excitation should be unity since the A1B surface is purely repulsive and is not coupled to any other electronic surfaces. From the above measurement of the H-atom products from the mixed sample, the ratio of the H-atom products from HOD and H2O is determined to be 1.27. If we assume the quantum yield for H2O at 157 is unity, the quantum yield for the H production should be 0.64 (i.e. 1.27 divided by 2) since the HOD concentration is twice that of H2O in the mixed sample. Similarly, from the above measurement of the D-atom product from the mixed sample, we can actually determine the ratio of the D-atom products from HOD and D2O to be 0.52. Using the same assumption that the quantum yield of the D2O photodissociation at 157 nm is unity, the quantum yield of the D-atom production from the HOD photodissociation at 157 nm is determined to be 0.26. Therefore the total quantum yield for the H and D products from HOD is 0.64 + 0.26 = 0.90. This is a little bit smaller ( 10%) than 1 since the total quantum yield of the H and D productions from the HOD photodissociation should be unity because no other dissociation channel is present for the HOD photodissociation other than the H and D atom elimination processes. There are a couple of sources of error, however, in this estimation (a) the assumption that the absorption cross-sections of all three water isotopomers at 157 nm are exactly the same, and (b) the accuracy of the volume mixture in the... 

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