Fragmentation of Molecules by Virtual Photons from Remote Neighbors.

It is shown that a molecule can dissociate by the energy transferred from a remote neighbor. This neighbor can be an excited neutral or ionic atom or molecule. If it is an atom, then the transferred energy is, of course, electronic, and in the case of molecules, it can also be vibrational. Explicit examples are given which demonstrate that the transfer can be highly efficient at distances where there is no bonding between the transmitter and the dissociating molecule.