Page 27 - Visions of the Future Chemistry and Life Science

Figure 1.6. Quantum theory of IBr·Ar dissociation, showing a snapshot of the wavepacket states
at 840fs after excitation of the I–Br mode by a 100fs laser pulse. The wavepacket maximum
reveals predominant fragmentation of the IBr molecule along the r coordinate at short IBr–Ar
distances (R coordinate), whilst a tail of amplitude stretches to longer R coordinates, indicating
transfer of energy from the I–Br vibration to the IBr–Ar dimension, which propels the argon
atom away from the intact IBr molecule.