Coriolis coupling as a source of non-RRKM effects in triatomic near-symmetric top molecules: Diffusive intramolecular energy exchange between rotational and vibrational degrees of freedom

A classical theory is proposed to describe the non-RRKM effects in activated asymmetric top triatomic molecules observed numerically in classical molecular dynamics simulations of ozone. The Coriolis coupling is shown to result in an effective diffusive energy exchange between the rotational and vibrational degrees of freedom. A stochastic differential equation is obtained for the K-component of the rotational angular momentum that governs the diffusion. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3430508]