Photodissociation Dynamics: Spectroscopy and Fragmentation of Small Polyatomic Molecules

by Reinhard Schinke

Overview

This text elucidates the achievements in calculating photodissociation cross sections and fragment state distributions from first principles, starting from multi-dimensional potential energy surfaces and the Schrödinger equation of nuclear motion. Following an extended introduction in which the various types of observables are outlined, the next four chapters summarize the basic theoretical tools, namely the time-independent and time-dependent quantum mechanical approaches as well as the classical picture of photodissociation. The discussion of absorption spectra, diffuse vibrational structures, the vibrational and rotational state distributions of the photofragments form the core of the book. More specific topics such as the dissociation of vibrationally excited molecules, emission during dissociation, or nonadiabatic effects are discussed in the last third of the book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521484145
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/11/1995
Series:	Cambridge Monographs on Atomic, Molecular and Chemical Physics , #1
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	436
Product dimensions:	6.89(w) x 9.45(h) x 0.91(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Light absorption and photodissociation; 3. Time-independent methods; 4. Time-dependent methods; 5. Classical description of photodissociation; 6. Direct photodissociation: the reflection principle; 7. Indirect photodissociation: resonances and recurrences; 8. Diffuse structures and unstable periodic orbits; 9. Vibrational excitation; 10. Rotational excitation I; 11. Rotational excitation II; 12. Dissociation of van der Waals molecules; 13. Photodissociation of vibrationally excited states; 14. Emission spectroscopy of dissociating molecules; 15. Nonadiabatic transitions in dissociating molecules; 16. Real-time dynamics of photodissociation; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"One of the strengths of the book is that it can be read at more than one level. A newcomer to the field could skip the mathematical details without losing the thread of the essentially physical description; bullet-points concisely summarize the most important features....Schinke has amply fulfilled his declared aim of providing an overview of the field for graduate students in molecular physics and for experimentalists who are not familiar with the quantum theory of photochemistry." Richard N. Dixon, Nature

"...destined to become standard reading for graduate students about to embark on research careers in chemical dynamics as well as reflective reading for more mature scientists who thought they understood their subject." Jim Baggott, Science

"Schinke's book provides a suitable introduction—to be read now by those who wish to avoid future shock or by those who wish to start participating. First-year graduate students among the latter should not find the level of difficulty of the theory beyond their reach." Physics Today

"...very valuable as a textbook....Schinke has written an excellent book covering all the major topics of the modern study of photodissociation dynamics in a lucid and well-balanced manner. It should become an important companion both to graduate students and to senior researchers in the field and can also serve as a textbook for a graduate course in chemical dynamics." Hanna Reisler and Marsha I. Lester, Journal of the American Chemical Society

From the Publisher