Symmetry of normal modes

In order to apply group-theoretical descriptions of symmetry, it is necessary to determine what restrictions the symmetry of an atom or molecule imposes on its physical properties. For example, how are the symmetries of normal modes of vibration of a molecule related to, and derivable from, the full molecular symmetry How are the shapes of electronic wave functions of atoms and molecules related to, and derivable from, the symmetry of the nuclear framework ... 

Experimental studies have had an enormous impact on the development of unimolecular rate theory. A set of classical thermal unimolecular dissociation reactions by Rabinovitch and co-workers [6-10], and chemical activation experiments by Rabinovitch and others [11-14], illustrated that the separability and symmetry of normal modes assumed by Slater theory is inconsistent with experiments. Eor many molecules and experimental conditions, RRKM theory is a substantially more accurate model for the unimolecular rate constant. Chemical activation experiments at high pressures [15,16] also provided information regarding the rate of vibrational energy flow within molecules. Experiments [17,18] for which molecules are vibrationally excited by overtone excitation of a local mode (e.g. C-H or O-H bond) gave results consistent with the chemical activation experiments and in overall good agreement with RRKM theory [19]. 

The symmetry of normal modes and the selection rules governing transitions can be predicted by factor group analysis. Only a knowledge of the space group and the population of the equipoints is required. For a structure of any complexity, the first step is to determine the invariance conditions for each sublattice. The reducible representation... 

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