Dynamics of harpooning studied by transition state spectroscopy. II. Li center dot center dot FH

The van der Waals complex Li . . FH was formed in crossed beams and the tra nsition state of the excited-state reaction, Li*(2p P-2)+HF --> LiF+H, was accessed by photoexcitation of this complex. The dynamics of the excited-st ate reaction were probed by varying the excitation wavelength over the rang e 570-970 nm while recording the photodepletion of the complex. The finding s were interpreted using high-level ab initio calculations of the ground an d lowest excited-state potential-energy surfaces. (C) 2000 American Institu te of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)02446-6].