ALIGNMENT OF D-2(V,J) DESORBED FROM CU(111) - LOW-SENSITIVITY OF ACTIVATED DISSOCIATIVE CHEMISORPTION TO APPROACH GEOMETRY

We have determined the alignment of D-2(upsilon,J) desorbed from Cu(11 1). The measurements reveal a small preference for ''helicoptering'' m otion that increases with increasing J. At low J, the alignments are m uch smaller than predicted by recent calculations. We believe that the anisotropic potential may scramble the alignment as the molecules lea ve the surface. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.