Multiple dynamical pathways in the O+SiH4 reaction studied by the crossed molecular beam method

In this report, the O+SiH4 reaction is investigated using crossed molecular beam techniques. Multiple pathways have been observed for this reaction. A ngular resolved time-of-flight spectra have been measured for all reaction products in a single set of experiments. Different product angular distribu tions were measured for various product channels, indicating that multiple reaction pathways with distinctive dynamics are present. An intriguing trip le product channel, SiO+2H(2), has also been clearly identified. However, t he role of O(P-3) vs O(D-1) in the reactions remains to be clarified in fur ther experimental investigations. This study provides a good example of mul tiple dynamical pathways in a complicated reaction, which opens enormous op portunities in investigating the dynamics of chemical reactions that are im portant in combustion and atmospheric chemistry. (C) 2000 American Institut e of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)01129-6].