Competitive channels in the interaction of Xe(3 P J) with Cl2, Br2 and I2. Atom transfer, excitation transfer, energy disposal and product rotational alignment

Abstract

The collision of electronically excited rare-gas atoms, e.g. Xe[np5(n+ 1)s] with the molecular halogens leads both to atom transfer (generating vibrationally and electronically excited rare gas halides) and to excitation transfer (generating electronically excited molecular halogens in a range of ion-pair excimer states). Translational energy utilisation and rotational alignment in the products of the atom transfer channel have been probed using a superthermal pulsed molecular beam technique, while the vibrational energy disposal and branching ratios determined under thermal collision conditions have been reassessed through direct inversion of the resolved chemiluminescence emission spectra. The range of halogen excimer states populated through excitation transfer has been identified by appeal to the literature.