Infrared laser enhancement of chemical reactions via collision induced absorption

Abstract

We have pointed out previously that an infrared laser will in general enhance the rate of a chemical reaction via a collision induced absorption, even if the reactants themselves are infrared inactive. This paper examines this phenomenon more fully by presenting a simple analytically solvable model which illustrates it and also by presenting the results of classical trajectory calculations we have carried out for the reactions X+H2?HX+H, for X=H, F, Cl. One new feature which is revealed by these calculations is that the polarization of the laser is an important parameter, i.e., certain polarizations are much more effective in enhancing the rate of the reaction than others.