Using mathematical software, elaborate on the results of Example 12A.2 by:

(a) Exploring the effect of varying the wavenumbers and intensities of the three components of the radiation on the shape of the interferogram;

(b) Calculating the Fourier transforms of the functions you generated in part (a).

Data in Example 12A.2

The collision frequency z of a molecule of mass m in a gas at a pressure p is z=4σ(kT/πm)^1/2p/kT, where σ is the collision cross-section. Find an expression for the collision-limited lifetime of an excited state assuming that every collision is effective. Estimate the width of rotational transition in HCl (σ=0.30nm²) at 25 °C and 1.0 atm. To what value must the pressure of the gas be reduced in order to ensure that collision broadening is less important than Doppler broadening?