Unimolecular Reaction Dynamics

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This research, part of the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program, is designed to study the spectroscopy and dynamics of simple prototypical molecules near their dissociation thresholds. The object of this study is to understand the interaction of the variety of molecular vibrations and rotations as a molecule proceeds along the path to dissociation. Fully state-resolved experiments will be done to observe the spectra of molecules at the threshold of dissociation, to measure dissociation rates for individual quantum states and to map the release of energy and angular momentum among product degrees of freedom. An aim of the study is to establish the extent of coupling between vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom as a molecule proceeds along the reaction coordinate to dissociation products. The data obtained should provide a strong test of alternative dynamical models of unimolecular reactions. Ab-initio potential surfaces will be used with state-of-the-art dynamical methods to compare theory and experiment which provide complete energy state spectral resolution.