A comparison of the vibrational predissociation rates in the rare-gas–ethylene clusters

Abstract

Vibrational predissociation lifetimes have been calculated for Ne–C₂H₄, Ar–C₂H₄ and Kr–C₂H₄ with ethylene in its ν₇ vibrationally excited state. A coupled-channel method, which includes both vibration and azimuthal rotation of the ethylene monomer, is used. The Ne–C₂H₄ complex is predicted to be much shorter lived than the Ar–C₂H₄ and Kr–C₂H₄ complexes. This phenomenon is shown to be critically dependent upon the well depth of the intermolecular potentials, and a comparison of the calculated lifetimes with future experimental values may yield bounds on the well depths of the rare-gas–ethylene complexes.