Making and Breaking Weak Bonds: Spectroscopic Studies of Intermolecular Interactions

W. Klemperer, Harvard University, USA

We discuss structure and dynamics of molecular complexes. The topics include the dependence of vibrational predissociation of hydride complexes upon valence and soft mode excitation level as well as the dependence of the configuration of minimum energy upon valence excitation. The non-rigidity as well as non-classical dynamics, as evidenced by strong isotopic dependences will also be discussed. The large body of spectroscopic data that exist for molecular complexes allows comparisons with long time models as well as relatively sophisticated electron structure calculations. The research is by Drs. Kelly Higgins and Zhenhong Yu, and Mr. Patrick Medley and is made possible by the support of the National Science Foundation.