ネコの宙返りと形空間のリーマン幾何学 ―分子の構造転移運動への応用―

抄録

The so-called “falling cat” problem, which is concerned with the coupling between internal motions and rotations of a flexible body, is introduced. I give a geometric interpretation of the Eckart condition, which is frequently used for the approximate separation of rotations and internal motions of polyatomic molecules. It is shown that the separation procedure based on the Eckart condition disregards the intrinsically “curved” nature of molecular internal space (shape space). The “curved” nature of shape space is shown to have considerable effects on structural transition dynamics of polyatomic molecules.