Probability oscillations in single pass curve crossings: Semiclassical predictions of nonmonotonic dependence on crossing velocity.

We consider dynamical curve crossing behavior for one dimensional intermolecular potentials of arbitrary curvature. Our focus is threefold. (1) A semiclassical WKB formalism yields simple analytic expressions for time dependent transition probabilities throughout the crossing region. For low velocities v, our results reduce to the required quasistatic unitary transformation between diabatic and adiabatic representations. At higher v, the WKB solutions exhibit time dependent oscillations (‘‘beating’’ between the stationary adiabatic states) in excellent quantitative agreement with exact numerical solutions. (2) The WKB analysis indicates that an oscillatory dependence of curve crossing probability Pcr on v occurs for potential crossings of sufficient curvature, in qualitative disagreement with the extensively used Landau–Zener expression. These probability oscillations can be understood and predicted from simple considerations of potential curvature and coupling strengths. (3) We explore this oscillatory behavior for realistic curve crossing geometries. The results indicate that a nonmonotonic dependence of Pcr on velocity may occur in real molecular systems and could be experimentally observed in favorable albeit special circumstances. Even in the absence of oscillations, however, pronounced departure from Landau–Zener predictions can be anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]