Charge transfer dynamics in Ar+ + CO

Abstract

Differential cross sections for the charge transfer reaction between Ar+ and CO have been measured using three-dimensional velocity map imaging in a crossed beam setup at the two relative collision energies 0.55 and 0.74 eV. We find dominant forward scattering with CO+ product ions predominantly in the vibrational levels =6,7 of the electronic ground state X. This is indicative of a direct resonant mechanism for the two argon spin-orbit states. At both collision energies also an isotropic distribution with product ions exhibiting high internal excitation is observed. This is more pronounced at the higher collision energy, where the first electronically excited state A becomes accessible. We conclude that the A-state is partially populated by the product ions at 0.74 eV collision energy and suggest that the isotropic distribution stems from the formation of a charge-transfer complex, in concurrence with previously performed studies.