A quantum-mechanical study of the dynamics of the O(D-1)+H-2 -> OH+H insertion reaction

We have studied the quantum dynamics of the O(D-1)+H-2(X (1)Sigma (+)(g))-- > OH(X (2)Pi)+H(S-2) reaction at low collision energies. The hyperspherical method has been used in a time-independent formalism. We present rotationa l and vibrational distributions. OH vibrational distributions are found to be noninverted. Differential cross sections are almost symmetric in the for ward and backward directions, with a slight preference for forward scatteri ng. These features are consistent with the formation of an intermediate com plex. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.