Michael Baer
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Title: Topological Study of the H3++ Molecular System: H3++ as a Cornerstone for Building Molecules during the Big Bang
Biography
Biography: Michael Baer
Abstract
The present study is devoted to the possibility that tri-atomic molecules were formed during or shortly after the Big Bang. For this purpose we consider the ordinary H3+ and H3 molecular systems and the primitive tri-atomic molecular system, H3++, which, as is shown, behaves differently (see, Baer et. al, Molec. Phys.doi.org/10.1080.00268976.2018.1442940). The study is carried out by comparing the topological features of these systems as they are reflected through their non-adiabatic coupling terms. Although H3++ is not known to exist as a molecule, we found that it behaves as such at intermediate internal distances. However this illusion breaks down as its asymptotic region is reached. Our study indicates that whereas H3+ and H3 dissociate smoothly, the H3++ does not seem to do so. Nevertheless, the fact that H3++ is capable of living as a molecule on borrowed time enables it to catch an electron and form a molecule via the reaction H3++ + e ® H3+ that may dissociate properly.
Thus, the two unique features acquired by H3++, namely, that it is the most primitive system formed by three protons and one electron and topologically, still remain for an instant a molecule, may make it the sole candidate for becoming the cornerstone for creating the molecules