ROLE OF INTERNAL MOLECULAR-STRUCTURES IN GRAZING SURFACE-INDUCED DISSOCIATION

Polyatomic molecules containing chains of identical valence groups are dissociated with high probabilities when sliding along crystallic sur faces. Recently, we developed a model of collective vibrational excita tion and dissociation of such molecules. In the present article we use this model to elucidate the specific influence of chains formed by id entical valence groups in polyatomic molecules on their dissociation p robability. In addition, a new experiment is presented providing evide nce of this influence.