Abstract

The measurement and prediction of energy disposal pathways will lead to a better understanding of photochemical systems, e.g. formation of photochemical smog. Traditionally, impulsive dissociation models [1] are based in classical mechanics which allow a continuum of vibrational energies in the product fragments: this is problematic. In this work, a vibrationally-adiabatic impulsive dissociation model for AB + hv -A + B is developed. This assumes that E_excess (energy in excess of the separated products) is initially channelled into the dissociating bond: Figure 1. Furthermore, it is assumed that the molecule dissociates before it can relax to the excited state minimum- energy geometry.

© 1996 Optical Society of America