Small-energy three-body systems: IV. Classical trajectory calculations for the near-threshold behaviour of collision-induced dissociation

For pt.III, see ibid., vol.21, no.10, p.1845, (1988). Near-threshold collision-induced dissociation is simulated numerically for the process Xe+Xe₂ to 3Xe by carrying out detailed classical trajectory calculations. A static model of the target is chosen and the system is assumed to have zero total angular momentum. Then by varying a single parameter, the threshold law sigma approximately E^1.6 for the cross section is derived, and this is consistent with analytical results obtained previously. The authors also consider the distributions of energy, mutual angles and individual angular momenta in the final channel.