Selective control of the photolysis reaction in the Ar–HX (X = F, Cl, Br) clusters through the initial distribution of intracluster orientations

The bound state spectrum of the Ar–HX (X = F, Cl, Br) van der Waals (vdW) clusters is investigated. The yield and final state distribution of the ultraviolet photolysis reaction in these clusters is largely affected by the shape of the intracluster orientation distribution initially prepared. Thus, the change of this shape with excitation of the different cluster modes is analyzed. Angular distributions associated either with the Ar–H–X or the Ar–X–H isomer geometries, and with shapes in between these two limiting cases, are found. We conclude that a wide range of cluster angular geometry distributions can be initially prepared, allowing a high degree of selective control on the Ar–HX photolysis reaction products.