Reactive Scattering. A Simple Three-Body Model

A simple model is created which can be solved for the change in population probabilities of reactive and nonreactive channels due to molecular collision. The system consists of an atom collinearly colliding with a diatomic molecule. Both the reactant molecule and the product molecule are chosen to be square well oscillators. The possibility of the formation of three free particles is forbidden. Matching wavefunctions at the various boundaries in an orthogonal function sense permits the calculation of a scattering matrix. The effects of varying the parameters of the model are then examined: relative translational energy, atomic masses, molecular orientation, potential energy barrier height, and passage widths.