We compare the classical and quantum theories of a Morse oscillator driven by a sinusoidal field, focusing attention on multiple-photon excitation and dissociation. In both the classical and quantum theories the threshold field strength for dissociation may be estimated fairly accurately on the basis of classical resonance overlap, and the classical and quantum results for the threshold are in good agreement except near higher-order classical resonances and quantum multiphoton resonances. We discuss the possibility of ‘‘quantum chaos’’ in such driven molecular systems and use the Morse oscillator to test the manifestations of classical resonance overlap suggested semiclassically.

• Received 20 July 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.37.796