Description
"Atomic and Molecular Collisions" by Sir Harrie Massey is an introductory yet thorough treatment of collision phenomena involving atoms, molecules, ions, electrons, and photons, suitable for advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students in physics, chemistry, or related fields. Emphasis: Balanced presentation, giving proper space to foundational elements before advancing into greater concepts. It shows how theory, the structure, and modern experimental findings relate. Special Features: Coverage spanning classical mechanics, wave motion, and the foundations of wave mechanics as applied to atomic and molecular collisions. Explanations of the importance and implications of essential quantum-mechanical principles for describing collision events. Clear descriptions and many specific examples of how to obtain quantitative understanding of phenomena ranging from electron diffraction and atomic spectra, to the dissociation of molecules, ionic mobilities, and charge transfer rates. Numerous other topics concerning energy and charge transfers, such as, for instance, autodetachment, negative ions, glory scattering, rainbow scattering. Discussion of experimential methods used, along with many diagrams and analyses, that were used through 1978, some of which are described as ground-breaking or are used to present phenomena. Connection of key examples to phenomena observed outside laboratories, particularly astrophysics. Appendices: Provides the reader a better foundation. It covers; essential concepts related to gas flow, detection techniques, and beam dynamics, along with supporting formulas. Readership*: Upper-level undergraduates, Beginning graduate students, Any field that deals with gas kinetics, plasma physics, aeronomy, astrophysics, laser design, atmospheric physics.