SPIN-ORBIT EFFECTS IN THE REACTION OF F(P-2) WITH H-2

We report the first scattering calculations for the F+H-2 reaction bas ed on ab initio potential energy surfaces (PES's) and an exact treatme nt of spin-orbit and Coriolis coupling. The probability of reaction of F(P-2(1/2)) is less than 10% of that for F(P-2(3/2)) and the overall features of the scattering are well represented by calculations on th e lowest electronic PES. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.