Abstract
By means of full quantum close-coupling and coupled states calculations based on an ab initio potential energy surface for the Ar–CH system, we confirm a propensity seen experimentally by Hancock, Stuhl, and their co-workers. During the rotational relaxation of high rotational levels of the CH(X 2Π) radical, produced by photolysis of a suitable precursor, there appears a clear population imbalance in favor of the Λ-doublet levels of Π(A″) symmetry. A full kinetic simulation, based on the calculated cross sections, reproduces nearly quantitatively the experimental observations of both the temporal evolution and the pressure dependence of this Λ-doublet asymmetry. This asymmetry is a consequence of both an enhanced depletion of high N Π(A′) levels and the enhanced formation of Π(A″) levels in the next lower (N−1) manifolds. The physical origin of this propensity involves a crossing between two adiabatic bender potentials which follow, respectively, the A′ and A″ potential energy surface (PES). This crossing occurs only for the ‘‘helicopter-like’’ approach of the CH molecule, in which its rotational angular momentum is aligned along the initial relative velocity vector. Thus, a strong v, N correlation in the reactant channel results in a strong Λ, N correlation in the product channel.
Published Version
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