PRODUCT STATE-RESOLVED STEREODYNAMICS - O(D-1(2))-]OH(X(2)PI(1(HCL)2)UPSILON=4, N=6)+CL(P-2(J))/

A first study of the stereodynamics of the reaction, O(D-1(2)) + HCl - -> OH(X; v, N) + Cl(P-2(J)) is described. Polarised, Doppler resolved laser induced fluorescence is used to probe the product state resolved differential cross section, translational energy disposal, excitation function and rotational polarisation of the OH products, specifically OH(X (II1/2)-I-2; v = 4, N = 6). The new results are discussed in the context of earlier studies of the pattern of energy disposal in the a bove reaction and crossed beam studies of the competing reaction chann el O(D-1(2))C HCl --> ClO(X) + H. Although the reactive trajectories m ay access a deeply bound well on the potential surface, the dynamics c annot simply be described solely in terms of an insertion mechanism pr oceeding through the intermediacy of a long-lived, persistent collisio n complex.