Angular distribution of product internal states using laser fluorescence detection: The Ba+KCl reaction

Abstract

The gas-phase reaction Ba+KCl→BaCl+K has been investigated under crossed beam conditions using laser fluorescence detection of the BaCl and K products. The angular distributions of individual BaCl vibrational states have been obtained. For low v, forward and backward peaks are observed; for high v, insufficient product translational energy is present to resolve separate peaks; and for all v, approximately 58% of the BaCl product is forward scattered. The reaction is interpreted as proceeding through an osculating complex. Although this complex is estimated to live one-half of a revolution, the energy partitioning is decidedly nonrandom. The peak of the vibrational product population occurs near v=7, and considerable rotational excitation is present.