Importance of complex-mode collisions in the vibrational relaxation of strongly attracting molecules. The H 2OHCl(ν=1) system

Abstract

The deexcitation of HCl(ν=1) in the H 2OHCl interaction is studied at thermal collision energies using classical trajectory techniques. In the presence of strong attraction, the collision partners form a complex, and the initial vibrational energy flows freely among various internal modes in the complex. When the complex redissociates, the major portion of the energy is found to localize in the rotational motion of HCl. This study establishes the occurrence of vibrational relaxation in complex-mode collisions and the main energy transfer pathway to be vibration-to-rotation in the complex. Energy transfer is found to be inefficient in direct-mode collisions.