ON THE GEOMETRIC PHASE EFFECT ON TETRA-ATOMIC REACTIONS - THE OH-2-]H2O+H REACTION(H)

The geometric phase effect on chemical reactions is investigated for a tetra-atomic reaction using classical mechanics and recently develope d row-orthonormal hyperspherical coordinates. The quantum vector poten tial responsible for the proper handling of the phase of the nuclear w avefunction is incorporated in the classical trajectory equations. Thi s provides a simple estimate of the importance of the geometric phase for reaction cross-sections. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.