Few-body processes in atom-diatom collisions

Abstract

This contribution reviews recent progress on theories of atom-diatom collisions at thermal and hyperthermal energies. Following an overview of the types of theories being applied to triatomic systems,,it describes interaction potentials from a point of view relevant to few-body methods. Wavemechanical methods and results are reviewed for reactive collisions on single potential energy surfaces, including wavefunction propagation, basis expansion and purely numerical approaches. Reactions on multiple potential surfaces are briefly described, as well as approximations and models. Wave-mechanical treatments of dissociation are also considered. Applications of transition operator methods are reviewed, starting with results on two-atom transition operators and continuing with three-atom collisions at thermal and hyperthermal energies, including results of multiple-collision expansions.