Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.117, No.8, 3733-3740, 2002
Conical intersections and the nonadiabatic reactions H2O+O(P-3)<-> OH(A(2)Sigma(+))+OH(X-2 Pi)
In this work the reaction O(P-3)+H2O-->OH(X (2)Pi)+OH(A (2)Sigma(+)) and the reverse reaction were studied. (3)Pi-(3)Delta and (3)Pi-(3)Sigma(+) conical intersection seams were found that tie two reactant-channel potential energy surfaces to the two excited state potential energy surfaces correlating with OH(X (2)Pi)+OH(A (2)Sigma(+)) products. Near their lowest energy points, which occur for collinear geometries, these accidental symmetry-allowed conical intersection seams have very similar geometries and are separated by <90 cm(-1). This close proximity may reflect a three state conical intersection not required by symmetry. The conical intersection seams were shown to be accessible from both the reactant and product channels without a barrier, above any reaction endoergicity, and provide in the case of the reverse reaction for branching to either H2O+O(P-3) or OH(X (2)Pi)+OH(X (2)Pi).