Effect of the intermolecular excitation in the vibrational predissociation dynamics of van der Waals complexes and the implications for control

NeI2 Photofragmentation Dynamics Through Quasiclassical and Semiclassical Studies

The triatomic system NeI2 is studied under the consideration that the diatom is found in an excited electronic state (B). The vibrational levels (v=13, …, 23) are considered within two well-known theoretical procedures: quasi-classical trajectories (QCT), where the classical equations of motion for nuclei are solved on a single potential energy surface (PES), and the trajectory surface hopping (TSH) method, where the same are solved in a bunch of crossed vibrational PES (diabatic representation). The trajectory surface hopping fewest switches (TSHFS) is implemented to minimize the number of hoppings, thus allowing the calculations of hopping probability between the different PES's, and the kinetic mechanism to track the dissociation path. From these calculations, several observables such as, the lifetimes, vibrational and rotational energies (I2 ), dissociation channels, are obtained. Our results are compared with previous experimental and theoretical work.

Fragmentation of Molecules by Virtual Photons from Remote Neighbors

It is shown that a molecule can dissociate by the energy transferred from a remote neighbor. This neighbor can be an excited neutral or ionic atom or molecule. If it is an atom, then the transferred energy is, of course, electronic, and in the case of molecules, it can also be vibrational. Explicit examples are given which demonstrate that the transfer can be highly efficient at distances where there is no bonding between the transmitter and the dissociating molecule.

Femtosecond predissociation dynamics of the methyl radical from the 3pz Rydberg state

Vibrationally state selected predissociation lifetimes for the methyl radical in the 3p_z Rydberg state have been measured by femtosecond velocity map imaging and the results explained by ab initio theoretical calculations.