Dissociation of the NO–CH 4 van der Waals complex: Binding energy and correlated motion of the molecular fragments

Abstract

The binding energy of the NO–CH 4 van der Waals complex has been determined by velocity map imaging to be 198 ± 2 cm −1 in the A ∼ state, with a corresponding X ∼ state value of 103 ± 2 cm −1. Individual rotational states of the NO A products have been probed, providing insight into the correlated motion of the NO and CH 4 products. Low rotation of NO correlates with low rotation of CH 4. With increasing rotational excitation in NO there is a corresponding increase in CH 4 rotational excitation. At the highest NO rotation, the CH 4 is forced through conservation of energy to be in low rotational states.