The vibrational predissociation of HeBr2: a wavepacket study

Effective Phase Space Representation of the Quantum Dynamics of Vibrational Predissociation of the ArBr2(B,ν =16···25) Complex

We perform trajectory-based simulations of the vibrational predissociation of the ArBr₂(B,ν=16···25) van der Waals triatomic complex, constrained to the T-shape geometry. To this aim, we employ a 2-fold mapping of the quantum dynamics into classical-like dynamics in an extended phase space. The effective phase space comprises two distinct sets of degrees of freedom, namely a collection of coupled harmonic oscillators and an ensemble of quantum trajectories. The time evolution of these variables represent bound and unbound motions of the quantum system, respectively. Quantum trajectories are propagated within the interacting trajectory representation. The comparison between the lifetimes of the predissociating complexes computed using the trajectory-based approach and the experimental results available for the target systems indicates that the present method is competitive with wavepacket propagation techniques. The competition between several simultaneous vibrational relaxation pathways was found to have a direct impact on the time scales of vibrational predissociation. Likewise, the analysis of the time evolution of the trajectories reveals the existence of regions in the effective phase space where transitions to vibrational states of higher energy are more likely to occur. The size and location of these regions influence the transient vibrational distributions and therefore the computed lifetimes. Furthermore, the mechanisms of energy redistribution along the dissociation coordinate are analyzed.

The dissociation dynamics of He⋯I 35Cl(B,v′=2,3) complexes with varying amounts of internal energy

The He...I (35)Cl intermolecular vibrational levels with n'=0-6 that are bound within the He+ICl(B,v'=3) potential [A. B. McCoy, J. P. Darr, D. S. Boucher, P. R. Winter, M. D. Bradke, and R. A. Loomis, J. Chem. Phys. 120, 2677 (2004)] are identified in laser-induced fluorescence experiments performed at very low temperatures within a supersonic expansion. Comparisons of the positions and intensities of these lines with the excitation spectra, calculated using potential surfaces to describe the interactions between the helium atom and ICl in its ground and excited state, assist in the assignments. Based on these comparisons the excited state potential was rescaled so that the experimental and calculated J'=0 energies agree to within the experimental uncertainties for all but the lowest, n'=0, intermolecular level. Two-laser, action, and pump-probe spectroscopy experiments indicate that the bound He...I (35)Cl(B,v'=3) intermolecular vibrational levels undergo vibrational predissociation forming rotationally excited I (35)Cl(B,v'=2,j') products with distributions that depend upon the initial intermolecular vibrational level excited. Action spectra recorded in the ICl B-X, 2-0 region while monitoring the Deltav=0, I (35)Cl(B,v'=2) channel reveal two additional dissociation mechanisms for the He...I (35)Cl(B,v') excited state complexes: rotational predissociation of discrete metastable states lying slightly above the He+I (35)Cl(B,v'=2) asymptote and direct dissociation that occurs when the linear conformer is excited to the continuum of states above the same asymptote. The rotational predissociation pathway forms I (35)Cl(B,v'=2,j') products in all of the rotational states energetically accessible. The direct dissociation mechanism yields very cold rotational product state distributions; for instance, the average rotational energy in the product state distribution measured when the linear complexes are prepared 20 cm(-1) above the dissociation limit is only 1.51 cm(-1), representing only 7.6% of the available energy.