Vibrational energy transport in molecules and the statistical properties of vibrational modes

Statistical properties of the eigenmodes computed for two molecules, dodecane and perfluorododecane, are examined and compared with predictions of random matrix theory. The eigenmode statistics of the heat carrying modes of perfluorododecane correspond to Porter-Thomas statistics, whereas those for dodecane do not. Vibrational energy transport in the two molecules is also computed and found to be diffusive in perfluorododecane but not in dodecane, consistent with recent experiments. The correspondence between eigenmode statistics and vibrational energy transport dynamics in molecules as well as thermalization in molecules are discussed.