Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.107, No.3, 733-743, 1997
Polarization of Emission from Asymmetric Rotors .2. Vector Reorientation Through Intramolecular Coupling and Inelastic-Collisions
We report measurements of the linear and circular polarization ratios from fully resolved rotational levels of the asymmetric rotor NH2 populated by collisions with H atoms. The results compare well with a theoretical model that includes the depolarizing effects of intramolecular coupling of rotational angular momentum N to nuclear and to electron spin. These have a very significant influence on fluorescence polarization. The model also incorporates the tilting of the N vector in the molecule frame that occurs when inter-k stack transitions take place. Changes in N vector orientation are described with the aid of the angular momentum sphere, a classical representation of the motion of the N vector in a molecule fixed frame. The theoretical treatment assumes the classically impulsive limit for the collisional interaction with conservation of the m quantum number along the kinematic apse. This description of the fate of the N vector under the influence of intra- and intermolecular interactions allows stereodynamical conclusions to be drawn from experimental observations of fluorescence polarization.
Keywords:ROTATIONAL ENERGY-TRANSFER;SYMMETRIC TOP MOLECULES;PRESERVING PROPENSITIES;POLYATOMIC-MOLECULES;STATE MULTIPOLES;DOUBLE-RESONANCE;SCATTERING;MODEL;APPROXIMATIONS;EXCITATION