Minimum density of states criterion

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-007395",
  "term": "Minimum density of states criterion",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A principle in unimolecular reaction rate theory, particularly within the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) framework, which states that the reaction coordinate for a unimolecular reaction passes through a transition state corresponding to the minimum density of states for a given energy. This criterion identifies the bottleneck for the reaction, where the number of accessible microstates is lowest. The transition state is located at the point along the reaction coordinate where the sum of states is minimized.",
  "subject": "Physical and Biophysical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory",
    "internal energy",
    "reaction coordinate",
    "transition state"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1996, 68, 149. 'A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 174 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668010149)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/minimum-density-of-states-criterion/"
}