Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.111, No.2, 592-599, 1999
Scalar and vector properties of the NO(v '=0) produced from the reaction O(D-1)+N2O -> NO+NO
We have measured the product state-selected differential cross-section (DCS), and the rotational angular momentum polarization, together with the energy distributions for the reaction O(D-1)+N2O-->NO+NO by utilizing Doppler-resolved polarization spectroscopy. The reaction dynamics of the vibrational channel forming the product NO(upsilon'=0) is discussed based on both the scalar and vector properties. The product rotational and center-of-mass translational energy distributions are described as Boltzmann distributions with T-rot approximate to 10 000 K and T-tr approximate to 13 000 K, respectively. These energy distributions are close to statistical predictions. The product DCS has substantial intensities over the whole angular range with a slight preference for backward scattering. The product rotational angular momentum vector j' does not have a noticeable angular correlation with either k or k' (the relative velocity vectors of the reactant and product, respectively). This nearly isotropic angular distribution of j' indicates that both in-plane and out-of-plane motions of the collisional ONNO complex contribute to the product rotation to almost the same degree. Considering that this reaction has no potential well deep enough for the formation of a long-lived complex, these nearly statistical scalar and isotropic vector properties suggest that the energy redistribution among the internal modes of the collisional ONNO complex efficiently takes place. It implies that there are strong couplings among the internal modes.