Reaction dynamics of O(P-3)+H-2(v=1)

The reaction dynamics of O(P-3) and H-2(v = 1) have been studied experiment ally by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection of the radical OH((XII)- I-2, v = 0, 1). The reactant H-2(v = 1) is prepared by stimulated Raman pum ping (SRP). The Lambda -doublet states are found to be selectively populate d in the vibrational ground state, with the (XII)-I-2(A')/(XIT)-I-2(A ") ra tio ranging from 1.4 at low J to 2.3 in the high J limit. OH((XII)-I-2, v = 1) was observed, and the OH(v " = 0)/ OH(v " = 1) ratio was estimated to b e greater than or equal to 25. Possible mechanisms are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.