Energy release in benzene–argon cluster dissociation – quasiclassical trajectory calculations

Results of quasiclassical trajectory calculations of the dissociation of a highly excited argon–benzene van der Waals cluster are reported. Two intermolecular potentials were used. The average energy removed from the excited benzene molecule, 〈ΔE〉, is −886 cm−1 for Lennard-Jones potential and −436 cm−1 for ab initio potential. The average trajectory lifetimes are 36.3 and 80.4 ps, respectively. The ΔE distribution shows a supercollision tail. No correlation was found between the lifetime of the cluster and the value of ΔE. The effects of the nature of the potential on the values of 〈ΔE〉 and on the long lifetime of the cluster are discussed.