Bound trajectories on the H+H2 surface: A test of the adiabatic model for reaction dynamics

Abstract

The predictions of the adiabatic model for reaction dynamics are compared with a linear stability analysis of the symmetric stretch and with actual trajectories on the Porter–Karplus H+H₂ surface. The results indicate the adiabatic model is accurate only for energies near linear stability. Also, classically bound trajectories in the vicinity of the saddle point are observed and analyzed using methods of nonlinear dynamics.