Quantum theory for transition state absorption

A time-dependent quantum model involving two wave packets on two excited-state surfaces is presented to describe absorption (or emission) from the transition state of a chemical reaction. The connection between the quantum result and existing classical theories is shown. The model ia applied to the direct dissociation of ICN* and gives results in good agreement with experiment. The dissociation time - the time to half-maximal absorption - is almost invariant with the pulse width but is dependent on the probe wavelength. A lower absorption plateau and a longer dissociation time is predicted for probe energies above the asymptotic resonance energy.