Mapping of the transition-state wavefunction

Bending excitation of the parent molecule transforms into rotation of the fragment molecule and therefore it is plausible to expect a relationship between the initial excitation and the final rotational state distribution. 

Within the classical approach one proceeds in a way analogous to direct photodissociation  

1) Construct the rotational excitation function J(70) by starting classical trajectories on the transition line with initial angle 70. 

2) The square of the quantum mechanical wavefunction along the transition line, s(7o) 2, provides the appropriate weighting for each trajectory. 

3) If the excitation function is monotonic it establishes a unique relation 7o(j) between the initial angle and the final angular momentum state. 

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