Generalized quantum statistical model for molecular infrared multiphoton excitation

The role of quantum intramolecular dynamics in unimolecular reactions

The dynamics of unimolecular reactions can be modelled by classical mechanics for the motion of nuclei on Born-Oppenheimer or other effective potential surfaces, by the corresponding quantum mechanical equations of motion and, perhaps, by quantum statistical treatments. In this paper I provide a synopsis of fundamental, qualitatively important effects arising from the quantum nature of intramolecular dynamics, as opposed to classical mechanics, and illustrate these with theoretical predictions and experimental examples from the work of my group in Zurich. These include quantum nonlinearity in infrared (IR) multiphoton excitation and reaction, non-classical wavepacket spreading in the Fermi resonance coupled modes in CHX3 molecules, effects of zero point energy and angular momentum in unimolecular reactions, nuclear spin symmetry conservation and inter con version and the hypothetical effects arising from the violation of parity and time reversal symmetry in unimolecular reactions. Specific applications to experiments include IR laser chemistry of CF3I and CF3Br, IR spectroscopy and dynamics of CHF3 and predissociation spectra and dynamics of II