THE EFFECT OF ANGULAR-MOMENTUM ON THE UNIMOLECULAR DISSOCIATION HCO-]H+CO

Full dimensional wave packet calculations are performed to model the u nimolecular dissociation HCO --> H + CO on its ground electronic state . Results of calculations up to total (nuclear) angular momentum J = 1 0 are reported. Most of our results are based on the recent potential surface of Werner, Keller, Schinke, and co-workers, although some comp arative results with the earlier surface of Bowman, Bittman, and Hardi ng are also presented. We focus on certain unimolecular resonances, an d determine their positions, widths, and associated CO product distrib utions. We find good agreement with the available experimental results of Neyer et al. We also consider how rotation affects a group of stat es associated with the 2:1 stretch/bend resonance. Bowman's adiabatic rotation model is found to provide a reasonable description of our res ults, and is also a useful tool for analysis. (C) 1997 American Instit ute of Physics.