Cluster Growth From the Gas Phase: Associative Collisions of Small Alkali Halide Aggregates

Abstract

Growth of clusters and eventually particles from free molecules in the gas phase lends itself to simulation.This report discusses classical molecular dynamics simulations of collisions of KCl molecules with small KCl clusters and of small KCl clusters with each other. Particular attention is given to long-lived collision complexes, especially those that endure long enough to be models for association and growth. Mechanisms of breakup are examined, as to structures through which the complexes go and the exchange processes that appear.