Multidimensional effects on dissociation of N2 on Ru(0001)

The applicability of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation to molecule-metal surface reactions is presently a topic of intense debate. We have performed classical trajectory calculations on a prototype activated dissociation reaction, of N-2 on Ru(0001), using a potential energy surface based on density functional theory. The computed reaction probabilities are in good agreement with molecular beam experiments. Comparison to previous calculations shows that the rotation of N-2 and its motion along the surface affect the reactivity of N-2 much more than nonadiabatic effects.