Bound and resonant molecular states formed from and dissociating to atoms and ions which do not exist

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The importance of considering the existence of bound and resonant molecular states arising from and dissociating to atoms and ions which are thermodynamically unstable is discussed. Physical mechanisms can exist at finite internuclear separations which do not exist at infinite separations that can stabilize such states. As an example, it is shown that such states explain the unexpected minima occuring in the potential energy curves for the 1Πu and upper 1Σg+ states of Zn2. Such states may also be of fundamental importance in understanding experimental phenomena such as the dissociative attachment and vibrational excitation patterns observed in electron impact experiments on HCl.