Exponentially divergent trajectories and RRKM behaviour of Ar3 clusters

The rate of exponential divergence of two initially adjacent trajectories has been studied for Ar₂ clusters at low and high energies. It is found that at the dissociation limit energy randomization occurs during two typical vibrational periods. Lifetime distributions for energies not far above the dissociation limit have a random lifetime pattern but highly energized clusters show non-RRKM behaviour