Chemical reactions are often interpreted using transition state theory (TST) where the transition barrier often forms a bottleneck between reagents and products. The detailed dynamics near a TS can be analyzed using quantum bottle neck states. The QBS are analogous to scattering resonance states where the trapping mechanism is simply the slowing down of the motion near the barrier maximum. Working with our experimental collaborator Xueming Yang, we have obtained a clear signature of the QBS for the first time in any bimolecular chemical reaction. We have found that many observables in chemical reactions can be interpreted using quantum bottleneck states.
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