Accurate quantum calculations for H2+OH→H2O+H: Reaction probabilities, cross sections, and rate constants

Abstract

Following a previous Communication [J. Chem. Phys. 99, 5615 (1993)], which reported several initial state‐selected total reaction probabilities for the title reaction for J=0, we present in this paper the methodologies of the previous calculation and show results of new calculations. In particular, the present calculations are extended to all angular momentum J≳0 and obtained reaction cross sections for a range of energies using the centrifugal sudden (CS) approximation. The computed cross sections are used to obtain the state‐specific thermal rate constants for both the ground and the excited vibrations of H₂. The dynamics calculation, in which the nonreactive OH bond is frozen, includes explicitly five degrees of freedom in the time‐dependent quantum dynamics treatment. The comparison of the present accurate cross sections with other approximate theoretical calculations shows discrepancies. The computed rate constants (from the ground rotation state) are larger than experimental measurements at low temperatures, the v=0 rate is larger than the corresponding experimental rate by a factor of 1.8, and the ratio of v=1 to v=0 rate is a factor of 4.8 greater than the experimental ratio at 300 K. The calculated reaction rates are also compared to those of other theoretical calculations and the differences are discussed in the text.