Dynamics of Driven Molecular Systems

The driven Morse oscillator is a common model used in the studies of many molecular dynamical processes, including photodissociation, vibrational overtone excitation, dissociation of van der Walls molecules, and surface desorption of admolecules. We review here the classical and quantum dynamics of this system, of which the essential features are universal to many driven anharmonic oscillators. Our emphasis here is on the role of phase space structures on threshold dissociation dynamics, sensitive dependence of dissociation on field parameters, chaotic scattering, and the possibility of stabilizing collisional complexes by external fields. Symmetry is shown to play a key role in the organization of periodic orbits, resonance islands, and homoclinic orbits. Quantum studies are reviewed in light of the classical results. Experimental relevance of these results is also closely addressed.