A reduced dimensionality, six-degree-of-freedom, quantum calculation of the H+CH[sub 4]→H[sub 2]+CH[sub 3] reaction.

A reduced dimensionality, time-dependent wave-packet calculation is reported for the H+CH[sub 4]→H[sub 2]+CH[sub 3] reaction in six degrees of freedom and for zero total angular momentum, employing the Jordan–Gilbert potential energy surface. Reaction probabilities for seven initial vibrational states of nonrotating “CH[sub 4],” and for the three lowest energy vibrational states and numerous initial rotational states are presented. Excitation of the C–H stretch, and the bending of H–CH[sub 3], enhances the reaction probability more than excitation of the umbrella mode. The six-degree-of-freedom cumulative reaction probability (CRP) for zero total angular momentum is obtained by direct summation over initial state-resolved reaction probabilities. An approximate full-dimensional CRP for zero total angular momentum is obtained using the energy-shift approximation to account for the contribution of degrees of freedom missing in the reduced dimensionality calculations. Then J–K shifting is applied to this CRP to obtain the thermal rate constant which is compared with previous calculations. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]