Model for vibrational predissociation of van der Waals molecules

We advance a theoretical model for vibrational predissociation (VP) of a linear triatomic molecular complex consisting of a rare-gas atom bound to diatomic, which rests on the decay of a bound state into a manifold of coupled translational continua. We explored the dependence of the VP rate on the molecular parameters of the complex, establishing an energy gap law for VP. The effects of intercontinuum coupling on the dynamics of VP were investigated.