Product state distributions in multi-channel reactions: vibrational distributions for Ca( 1S) + F 2 → CaF(X 2Σ + and B 2Σ +) + F

Abstract

Vibrational product state distributions, extracted from LIF and CL spectra are reported for two competing channels CaF(X 2Σ +) and CaF(B 2Σ +) of the Ca( 1S)+F 2 reaction at thermal energies. The X 2Σ + distribution is bimodal and is composed of a monotonically decreasing component at low v and an inverted component peaked at high v. The B 2Σ + distribution is unimodal and monotonically falling. This is interpreted in terms of two competing pathways within the ground-state channel, one proceeding via a singly ionic (Ca +F 2 −) configuration, the other via the doubly ionic (Ca 2+F −F −) configuration.