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The Franck-Condon Principle and Condon Parabolas in a Physical Chemistry or Quantum Physics Course

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Jean M. Standard

Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4160

Brian K. Clark

Department of Physics, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4560

J. Chem. Educ., 1999, 76 (10), p 1363

DOI: 10.1021/ed076p1363

Publication Date (Web): October 1, 1999

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

A discussion of Franck-Condon factors and the associated Condon parabola suitable for inclusion in a junior- or senior-level physical chemistry or quantum physics course is presented. The Condon parabola is a convenient means of displaying and visualizing the values of Franck-Condon factors for transitions between two electronic states of a diatomic molecule. In the Condon parabola, Franck-Condon factors are displayed using a contour format to better bring out their parabola-like distribution and the associated interference pattern corresponding to transition intensities. A description of the Condon parabola and Franck-Condon factors for a model in which harmonic oscillators are used to represent the electronic states of a diatomic molecule is given. The effects of varying the equilibrium internuclear separations of the states and the state force constants are illustrated. A Condon parabola for a real diatomic molecule, diatomic potassium, is also shown, and similarities to the harmonic oscillator model are discussed.

Keywords (Audience):

Upper-Division Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Physical Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Computer-Based Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Quantum Chemistry

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