Published October 26, 2006 | Version v1
Journal article

Quantum theory of enhanced unimolecular reaction rates below the ergodicity threshold

  • 1. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Physics Program, University of Nevada, Reno, Mail Stop 216, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557 (United States)
  • 2. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 (United States)

Description

A variety of unimolecular reactions exhibit measured rates that exceed Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) predictions. We show using the local random matrix theory (LRMT) of vibrational energy flow how the quantum localization of the vibrational states of a molecule, by violating the ergodicity assumption, can give rise to such an enhancement of the apparent reaction rate. We present an illustrative calculation using LRMT for a model 12-vibrational mode organic molecule to show that below the ergodicity threshold the reaction rate may exceed many times the RRKM prediction due to quantum localization of vibrational states

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1016/j.chemphys.2006.05.013;
PII
S0301-0104(06)00289-8;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Chemical Physics
Journal Volume
329
Journal Issue
1-3
Journal Page Range
p. 163-167
ISSN
0301-0104
CODEN
CMPHC2

INIS

Country of Publication
Netherlands
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
39096831
Subject category
S74: ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
FORECASTING; MATRICES; MOLECULES; QUANTUM MECHANICS; RANDOMNESS; REACTION KINETICS; VIBRATIONAL STATES
Descriptors DEC
ENERGY LEVELS; EXCITED STATES; KINETICS; MECHANICS

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.