Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Paskauskas, Rytis
Author's Email Address	rytis.paskauskas@gmail.com
URN	etd-11142007-101551
Title	Chaotic Scattering in Rydberg Atoms, Trapping in Molecules
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Physics
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Cvitanovic, Predrag Committee Chair Bellissard, Jean Committee Member Kindermann, Marcus Committee Member Uzer, Turgay Committee Member Wiesenfeld, Kurt Committee Member
Keywords	periodic orbit theory chaotic dynamics Hamiltonian systems dynamical systems symbolic dynamics invariant tori
Date of Defense	2007-10-12
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract We investigate chaotic ionization of highly excited hydrogen atom in crossed electric and magnetic fields (Rydberg atom) and intra-molecular relaxation in planar carbonyl sulfide (OCS) molecule. The underlying theoretical framework of our studies is dynamical systems theory and periodic orbit theory. These theories offer formulae to compute expectation values of observables in chaotic systems with best accuracy available in given circumstances, however they require to have a good control and reliable numerical tools to compute unstable periodic orbits. We have developed such methods of computation and partitioning of the phase space of hydrogen atom in crossed at right angles electric and magnetic fields, represented by a two degree of freedom (dof) Hamiltonian system. We discuss extensions to a 3-dof setting by developing the methodology to compute unstable invariant tori, and applying it to the planar OCS, represented by a 3-dof Hamiltonian. We find such tori important in explaining anomalous relaxation rates in chemical reactions. Their potential application in Transition State Theory is discussed.
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