Proton transfer: Recent results from neutron vibrational spectroscopy

Abstract

It is the object of vibrational spectroscopists to determine the potential surfaces controlling atomic motion. In the case of H-bonds these surfaces control the process of hydrogen transfer and inelastic neutron scattering is an ideal tool in this work. Recent neutron vibrational spectra of several H-bonded systems have shown that the proton vibrations are independent of the heavy atom motions. From studies of model polypeptide systems proton transfer is shown to be dominated by quantum tunnelling effects.