Driving high threshold chemical reactions during the compression interlude in cluster surface impact

A. Gross, H. Kornweitz, T. Raz, R. D. Levine

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Molecular-dynamics simulations of a cluster impacting a hard surface show that, initially, the cluster is rapidly compressed and translationally heated. During this short but distinct stage, the cluster is a suitable medium for chemistry: the number of layers of the cluster is not changing; the constituents of the cluster can collide several times and both bimolecular and collisionally driven unimolecular reactions can occur. Hypersonic velocities of impact are needed for a considerable temperature rise. Following compression, the cluster fragments by expanding into a hemispheroidal plume. For supersonic impact, the cluster expands nearer to the surface forming an oblate, omelet-like, hemispheroid.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)395-402
Number of pages8
JournalChemical Physics Letters
Volume354
Issue number5-6
DOIs
StatePublished - 18 Mar 2002
Externally publishedYes

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