KINETIC-ENERGY EFFECTS ON PRODUCT STATE DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE C(3P)-1-SIGMA+) REACTION - ENERGY PARTITIONING BETWEEN THE NO(X2-PI) AND CN(X2-SIGMA+) PRODUCTS(N2O((X)OVERTILDE)

The reaction C(3P) + N2O(X 1SIGMA+) is studied by varying the kinetic energy Of C (3P) in two center-of-mass regimes: 0.1-0.2 eV and 2-7 eV. C(3P) is directly observed, and the C(n) velocity distribution is est imated from the time-of-flight of C2. CN(X 2SIGMA+) is vibrationally i nverted and rotationally 'hot' at all collision energies. NO(X 2PI) is vibrationally much colder, but rotationally 'hot' at the higher colli sion energies. At lower energies, NO(X 2PI) has no vibrational excitat ion and is cold rotationally. Thus, little energy flow occurs between the 'old' NO and 'new' CN bond, suggesting a predominantly direct reac tion mechanism.