High resolution crossed molecular beams study of the H+HD→H2+D reaction

Abstract

The H+H2 reaction is the simplest chemical reaction system and has long been the prototype model in the study of reaction dynamics. Here we report a high resolution experimental investigation of the state-to-state reaction dynamics in the H+HD→H2+D reaction by using the crossed molecular beams method and velocity map ion imaging technique at the collision energy of 1.17 eV. D atom products in this reaction were probed by the near threshold 1+1′ (vacuum ultraviolet+ultraviolet) laser ionization scheme. The ion image with both high angular and energy resolution were acquired. State-to-state differential cross sections was accurately derived. Fast forward scattering oscillations, relating with interference effects in the scattering process, were clearly observed for H2 products at H2(v′=0, j′=1) and H2(v′=0, j′=3) rovibrational levels. This study further demonstrates the importance of measuring high-resolution differential cross sections in the study of state-to-state reaction dynamics in the gas phase.