Comparison of classical and quantum dynamics for collinear cluster scattering

The collinear dynamics of a cluster of four particles colliding with a fixed particle representing a surface is investigated using a four-dimensional wave packet approach. The properties of the system are chosen to resemble a water cluster interacting with graphite, but a deeper surface-particle potential is also considered causing significant dissociation of the cluster. Having four different product arrangement channels the system is quantum mechanically demanding but still manageable. The dynamical richness makes it a suitable benchmark system for evaluation of classical and quantum/classical schemes. The average energy transferred to the cluster and the three dissociation probabilities are presented as function of the initial state of the cluster. In addition to wave packet data, results obtained using quasiclassical as well as Wigner sampled classical trajectories are presented. The main conclusion is that classical mechanics can describe the dynamics of the system in a very satisfactory way. Including zero-point energy in the classical simulations is particularly important for a good description of dissociation but less important for energy transfer.