Cluster collisions of water tetramers: a classical dynamical study

The collision of two water tetramers is investigated with classical molecular dynamics and an empirical potential function. Varying the impact parameter, collision and internal energies of the two colliding tetramers we explore the possibility of forming the cubic structure isomers of the octamer. We ®nd that such events are favored under small collision energies and impact parameters with cold, low internal energy, tetramers. Large impact parameter collisions may lead to an orbiting pair of the two tetramers. Ó 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.