| Abstract: | A comparison between the construction of symmetry-correlation diagrams and the perturbation method for studying chemical reactions is carried out. The perturbation method consists of decomposing the system Hamiltonian H into a sum, H = H0 + H′. Various symmetry correlation schemes appearing in the literature may be explained by the nonuniqueness of the decomposition scheme. All symmetry selection rules may be viewed as the varieties. By examining the symmetry-correlation diagrams, processes under investigation may be called “forbidden” or “allowed,” depending on the topological feature. Of particular importance is the topology associated with the “avoided crossing.” By making the comparison, we can establish the correspondence of the two methods and conclude that the perturbation order furnishes the origin of the “forbiddenness” of a process. |
