COLLECTIVE VIBRATIONAL-EXCITATION AND DISSOCIATION OF SLOW POLYATOMIC-MOLECULES BY CRYSTAL-SURFACES

A model is suggested for resonant collective vibrational excitation an d dissociation of slow polyatomic molecules by crystal surfaces. In th is model the surface acts as a diffraction grating on molecules? incid ent at grazing angles, and as a tool for collective excitation of mole cules and molecular clusters. Resonant cleavage of certain bonds or di ssociation into fragments is accomplished experimentally by adjusting the two resonance parameters' molecular velocity and surface structure .