Chemiluminescence from reaction of group IIIa metals with F2 under crossed-beam conditions

Abstract

The chemiluminescence from the title reactions has been studied under crossed-beam conditions at energies up to 24 kcal mol−1 by heating and seeding the F2 beam. Relative rates of formation of the product vibronic states have been extracted from several spectra at a range of collision energies to reveal vibrational population inversion as found previously in a beam–gas experiment [R.W. Schwenz, L.C. Geiger, and J.M. Parson, J. Chem. Phys. 74, 1736 (1981)]. Increased reactant translational energy goes preferentially to product translational and rotational energy. The rates of formation of the product electronic states have been determined as functions of collision energy, and indicate the absence of significant potential barriers or wells along the paths followed to excited state formation. All of the observations are consistent with reaction to form electronically excited products proceeding by a direct mechanism with mixed energy release.