Quantum resonances and interference effects in the UV photodissociation of ArHCl

A hybrid quantum/semiclassical simulation method is applied to the photodissociation dynamics of HCl in the ArHCl cluster. The method treats the hydrogen quantum mechanically, and the heavy atoms by semiclassical wavepackets. The dynamics of the H atoms if found to show resonances where the H atom rattles between the Ar and Cl atoms before leaving. Particularly interesting is the kinetic energy distribution of the H atom which shows a structure of pronounced peaks, associated with the resonance levels, while the absorption spectrum is structureless. The dynamics of the process is discussed.