Photo-Induced Vibrational Predissociation of Van Der Waals Molecules

Abstract

A van der Waal’s molecule formed between diatomic or polyatomic molecules will, in general, have at least one vibrational frequency for which the associated quantum is greater than the well-depth of the van der Waal’s bond. Excitation of this frequency will, therefore, raise the internal energy to a level above that, required for dissociation of the van der Waal’s bond. In 1974 Klemperer suggested [1] that (HF)2 might be produced in, a supersonic molecular beam and detected with a mass spectrometer: excitation of the HF stretching frequency of (HF)₂, if followed by dissociation of the dimer, should lead to a decrease in the mass spectrometer output.