Production of excited OD+ in O+−D2 collisions at low relative energies (below 4 eV)

Abstract

The energetics of OD⁺ ions formed in collisions of ground state O⁺ with room temperature D₂ molecules have been studied at relative energies in the range 0.76–3.58 eV using ion beam techniques. Excited electronic states of OD⁺ are inaccessible below about 1.3 eV, so that product internal energy must be vibrational‐rotational excitation of ground state (X ³Σ)OD⁺ below this energy. It was found that OD⁺ is formed with internal energy over the entire energy range. The spectator stripping mechanism seems to predominate over the entire energy range.