title: Low Temperature Kinetics of the First Steps of Water Cluster Formation.
abstract: We present a combined experimental and theoretical low temperature kinetic study of water cluster formation. Water cluster growth takes place in low temperature (23-69 K) supersonic flows. The observed kinetics of formation of water clusters are reproduced with a kinetic model based on theoretical predictions for the first steps of clusterization. The temperature- and pressure-dependent association and dissociation rate coefficients are predicted with an ab initio transition state theory based master equation approach over a wide range of temperatures (20-100 K) and pressures (10^{-6}-10  bar).
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique de Rennes, UMR 6251 CNRS-Université de Rennes 1, 263 avenue Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bourgalais
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique de Rennes, UMR 6251 CNRS-Université de Rennes 1, 263 avenue Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roussel
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique de Rennes, UMR 6251 CNRS-Université de Rennes 1, 263 avenue Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capron
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique de Rennes, UMR 6251 CNRS-Université de Rennes 1, 263 avenue Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benidar
authors.affiliation: Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Jasper
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Klippenstein
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique de Rennes, UMR 6251 CNRS-Université de Rennes 1, 263 avenue Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biennier
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique de Rennes, UMR 6251 CNRS-Université de Rennes 1, 263 avenue Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Le Picard