Towards product vibrational state resolution in the reaction

Abstract

The title reaction has been the topic of a large body of research over many decades, but accurate quantum state information for the reaction product is not available up to now. Using a novel ion-molecule crossed-beam spectrometer we aim to resolve state-to-state differential cross sections by velocity map imaging. Here we present the design parameters for this setup as well as Monte Carlo simulations of the expected product energy resolution for two different assumed reaction mechanisms. The simulation results show that the product vibrational levels can be separated up to about 0.8 eV of internal excitation, which corresponds to two vibrational quanta in either the symmetric or the asymmetric stretching vibration. Using coincidence imaging of both products, even higher excitation may be imaged with vibrational resolution.