Predissociation of the D1Πustate of H2near threshold

Abstract
A recent calculation of Komarov and Ostrovsky (1979) seemed to have settled a controversy regarding the different experimental values of the H(2s)/H(2P) sharing ratio in the predissociation of the D1Piustate of H2near threshold. This calculation was based on a correct physical picture of the dissociation process, but the dynamical treatment rests on invalid assumptions. In the present work, a more rigorous quantum mechanical treatment is presented, and a branching ratio of 0.70 is obtained. The authors' results show how dangerous it is to infer the correctness of a calculation solely from the 'goodness' of a single physical quantity.