title: Single-parameter quantification of the sensitivity of a molecular collision to molecular polarization.
abstract: This article introduces the concept of intrinsic entropy, S, of a molecular collision. Defined in rigorously quantum mechanical terms as the von Neumann entropy of the intrinsic density matrices of reagents and products, the intrinsic entropy is a dimensionless number in the 0 < or = S < or = 1 range. Its limits are associated with situations where the collision cross section is due to a single combination of reagent and product polarizations (S = 0) or where there is absolutely no selectivity with respect to the molecular polarizations (S = 1). The usefulness of the intrinsic entropy as a quantifier of the sensitivity of a molecular collision to molecular polarizations is demonstrated with examples for the benchmark H + D(2) reaction.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom. m.miranda@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: Marcelo P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: de Miranda
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kendrick