The influence of vibrational and translational motion on the reaction dynamics of O(1D)+H2(1Σ+g,v)

Abstract

The OH product state distribution from the reaction O(¹D)+H₂(v)→OH(v‘,J‘,Ω,Λ)+H was determined by laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) in the Δv=−3 band for v‘=3 and 4 with resolution of the J‘, Ω, and Λ sublevels. The rotational state population distribution is inverted strongly in v‘=3, weaker in v‘=4. There is a higher propensity for production of OH in the Π(A’) Λ‐sublevels. Vibrationally excited H₂ was used for a part of the experiments. Excitation was achieved by stimulated Raman pumping (SRP). The population ratio of the vibrational states was determined to be P(v=3)/P(v=4)=3.5 for the reaction with H₂(v=0) and 3.0 when there is H₂(v=1) in the reaction chamber. Higher OH product states are populated than it would be expected from the mean available energy of the reaction. The translational energy of the reactants is transferred into OH rotation.