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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
Published on: January 9, 2014
Asymmetric top rotors in electric fields: influence of chaos and collisions in molecular beam deflection experiments
M Abd El Rahim1, R Antoine, M Broyer
1Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Ionique et Moléculaire, UMR 5579 (Université Lyon I et CNRS), 43 Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France.
Abstract:
We report on electric deflection experiments of structural isomers of aminobenzonitrile. They are used as models to study the influence of the asymmetry of a molecule on the molecule-electric field interaction. Experimental deflection profiles are compared to Stark effect calculations. We found increasing deviations from the calculated Stark effect behavior with increasing asymmetry. This deviation is induced by interactions with other particles and is directly related to the chaotic behavior of the rotational motion of asymmetric rotors in a static electric field.
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