Faraday communications. Rotational disintegration of polyatomic molecules

Abstract

Classical trajectory calculations on the relative nuclear motions in the J= 280 rotational state of ethane show that the molecule is stable when the quantum number K is less than ca. 50. For higher values of K, the molecule breaks up into two methyl radicals, with a lifetime which decreases as K increases: at K= 120, the lifetime is ca. one rotational period, even though the total energy is below the top of the effective centrifugal barrier.