The H+para‐H2 reaction: Influence of dynamical resonances on H2 (v’=1, j ’=1 and 3) integral cross sections

The Hydrogen Games and Other Adventures in Chemistry

I seem to have started off on the wrong foot in life, but I am extremely fortunate that I soon found my footing in the company of physical chemists. I consider myself to be very lucky to be doing something that constantly brings me in contact with bright minds, stimulating conversations, and exciting experiments. My work has allowed me to learn astounding facts about the molecules and atoms that make up our surroundings and ourselves. For this article, I focus on one aspect of my research, understanding the fundamental principles of the simple reaction between a hydrogen atom and a hydrogen molecule. Although my group and others have been studying this seemingly simple reaction for well over 30 years, it continues to provoke questions about the properties of matter.

Absolute level-resolved reactive and inelastic rate constants in Li+Li2*

We have used nuclear parity-changing collisions to obtain absolute level-to-level rate constants for reactive scattering in a triatomic system with identical nuclei. We have determined rate constants for the system (7)Li(2) (*)(A (1)Sigma(u) (+))(v(i)=2,j(i)=19)+(7)Li-->(7)Li+(7)Li(2) (*)(A (1)Sigma(u) (+))(v(f),j(f)), from laser-induced fluorescence spectra of lithium vapor in a heat pipe oven. Parity-preserving collisions yielded measurements of absolute rotationally and vibrationally inelastic rate constants as well. We compare the reactive rate constants with statistical prior distributions and the inelastic results with previously measured results on the Ne+(7)Li(2) (*) system.

State-to-state reaction dynamics: A selective review

A selective review of state-to-state reaction dynamics experiments is presented. The review focuses on three classes of reactions that exemplify the rich history and illustrate the current state of the art in such work. These three reactions are (1) the hydrogen exchange reaction, H+H2-->H2+H and its isotopomers; (2) the H+RH-->H2+R reactions, where RH is an alkane, beginning with H+CH4-->H2+CH3 and extending to much larger alkanes; and (3) the Cl+RH-->HCl+R reactions, principally Cl+CH4-->HCl+CH3. We describe the experiments, discuss their results, present comparisons with theory, and introduce heuristic models.

Reactive scattering dynamics in atom+polyatomic systems: F+C2H6-->HF(v,J)+C2H5

State-to-state scattering dynamics of F+C2H6-->HF(v,J)+C2H5 have been investigated at Ecom=3.2(6) kcalmol under single-collision conditions, via detection of nascent rovibrationally resolved HF(v,J) product states with high-resolution infrared laser absorption methods. State-resolved Doppler absorption profiles are recorded for multiple HF(v,J) transitions originating in the v=0,1,2,3 manifold, analyzed to yield absolute column-integrated densities via known HF transition moments, and converted into nascent probabilities via density-to-flux analysis. The spectral resolution of the probe laser also permits Doppler study of translational energy release into quantum-state-resolved HF fragments, which reveals a remarkable linear correlation between (i) HF(v,J) translational recoil and (ii) the remaining energy available, Eavail=Etot-E(HF(v,J)). The dynamics are interpreted in the context of a simple impulsive model based on conservation of linearangular momentum that yields predictions in good agreement with experiment. Deviations from the model indicate only minor excitation of ethyl vibrations, in contrast with a picture of extensive intramolecular vibrational energy flow but consistent with Franck-Condon excitation of the methylene CH2 bending mode. The results suggest a relatively simple dynamical picture for exothermic atom+polyatomic scattering, i.e., that of early barrier dynamics in atom+diatom systems but modified by impulsive recoil coupling at the transition state between translationalrotational degrees of freedom.

Lifetime of reactive scattering resonances: Q-matrix analysis and angular momentum dependence for the F+H2 reaction by the hyperquantization algorithm

We report a study on the behavior with total angular momentum J of several resonances occurring at collision energies below or slightly above the reaction barrier in the F+H2-->HF+H reaction. Resonance positions and widths are extracted from exact time-independent quantum mechanical calculations using the hyperquantization algorithm and Smith's Q-matrix formalism which exploits complete S-matrix information. The results confirm previous work but provide much greater insight. Identification of quasi-bound states responsible for the resonances based on adiabatic models for the long-range atom-molecule interactions both in the entrance and exit channels, is successful except for the feature occurring at the lowest energy, which is found to overlap with an exit-channel resonance for J approximately 7. The two features are analyzed as overlapping resonances and their excellent Lorentzian fits, with well-behaved J-dependences of positions and widths, support the interpretation of the low-energy feature as a resonance to be associated to the triatomic transition state of the reaction. Resonance role on the reactive observables (integral cross sections and angular distributions) is investigated. The mechanism leading to forward scattering in the reactive differential cross section is commented, while the effects on rate constants, as well as the sensitivity of the resonance pattern to modification of the potential energy surface, are fully discussed elsewhere.

Disagreement between theory and experiment in the simplest chemical reaction: Collision energy dependent rotational distributions for H+D2→HD(ν′=3,j′)+D

We present experimental rotational distributions for the reaction H + D2 --> HD(nu' = 3,j') + D at eight different collision energies between 1.49 and 1.85 eV. We combine a previous measurement of the state-resolved excitation function for this reaction [Ayers et al., J. Chem. Phys. 119, 4662 (2003)] with the current data to produce a map of the relative reactive cross section as a function of both collision energy and rotational quantum number (an E-j' plot). To compare with the experimental data, we also present E-j' plots resulting from both time-dependent and time-independent quantum mechanical calculations carried out on the BKMP2 surface. The two calculations agree well with each other, but they produce rotational distributions significantly colder than the experiment, with the difference being more pronounced at higher collision energies. Disagreement between theory and experiment might be regarded as surprising considering the simplicity of this system; potential causes of this discrepancy are discussed.

Collision energy dependence of the HD(ν′=2) product rotational distribution of the H+D2 reaction in the range 1.30–1.89 eV

An experimental and theoretical investigation of the collision energy dependence of the HD(nu' = 2,j') rotational product state distribution for the H + D2 reaction in the collision energy range of Ecol = 1.30-1.89 eV has been carried out. Theoretical results based on time-dependent and time-independent quantum mechanical methods agree nearly perfectly with each other, and the agreement with the experiment is good at low collision energies and very good at high collision energies. This behavior is in marked contrast to a previous report on the HD(nu' = 3,j') product state rotational distribution [Pomerantz et al., J. Chem. Phys. 120, 3244 (2004)] where a systematic difference between experiment and theory was observed, especially at the highest collision energies. The reason for this different behavior is not yet understood. In addition, this study employs Doppler-free spectroscopy to resolve an ambiguity in the E, F-X resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization transition originating from the HD(nu' = 2,j' = 1) state, which is found to be caused by an accidental blending with the transition coming from the HD(nu' = 1,j' = 14) state.

Quantum scattering calculations on chemical reactions

This review discusses recent quantum scattering calculations on bimolecular chemical reactions in the gas phase. This theory provides detailed and accurate predictions on the dynamics and kinetics of reactions containing three atoms. In addition, the method can now be applied to reactions involving polyatomic molecules. Results obtained with both time-independent and time-dependent quantum dynamical methods are described. The review emphasises the recent development in time-dependent wave packet theories and the applications of reduced dimensionality approaches for treating polyatomic reactions. Calculations on over 40 different reactions are described.

Scattering resonances in the simplest chemical reaction

Recent studies of state-resolved angular distributions show the participation of reactive scattering resonances in the simplest chemical reaction. This review is intended for those who wish to learn about the state-of-the-art in the study of the H + H2 reaction family that has made this breakthrough possible. This review is also intended for those who wish to gain insight into the nature of reactive scattering resonances. Following a tour across several fields of physics and chemistry where the concept of resonance has been crucial for the understanding of new phenomena, we offer an operational definition and taxonomy of reactive scattering resonances. We introduce simple intuitive models to illustrate each resonance type. We focus next on the last decade of H + H2 reaction dynamics. Emphasis is placed on the various experimental approaches that have been applied to the search for resonance behavior in the H + H2 reaction family. We conclude by sketching the road ahead in the study of H + H2 reactive scattering resonances.

Observation of predicted resonance structure in the H+D2 --> HD(v(') = 0, j(') = 7) + D reaction at a collision energy of 0.94 eV

We present experimental verification of predicted resonance structure in the energy dependence of the H+D2 reaction. Specifically we predict and observe a broad resonance in the H+D2-->HD(v(') = 0,j(') = 7)+D reaction at a collision energy of 0. 94 eV. This resonance structure is roughly Gaussian with a full width at half maximum of 0.1 eV. These results represent the first experimentally observed resonance structure in the fundamental H+H2 reaction system.

New Scheme for Measuring the Angular Momentum Spatial Anisotropy of Vibrationally Excited H2 via the I 1Πg State

We report the spectroscopic detection of vibrationally excited molecular hydrogen using 2+1 resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) via the I

Experimental Studies and Theoretical Predictions for the H + D2 rarr > HD + D Reaction

The H + H(2) exchange reaction constitutes an excellent benchmark with which to test dynamical theories against experiments. The H + D(2) (vibrational quantum number v = 0, rotational quantum number j = 0) reaction has been studied in crossed molecular beams at a collision energy of 1.28 electron volts, with the use of the technique of Rydberg atom time-of-flight spectroscopy. The experimental resolution achieved permits the determination of fully rovibrational state-resolved differential cross sections. The high-resolution data allow a detailed assessment of the applicability and quality of quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) and quantum mechanical (QM) calculations. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with the QM results and in slightly worse agreement with the QCT results. This theoretical reproduction of the experimental data was achieved without explicit consideration of geometric phase effects.

Reaction Product Imaging: The H + D2 Reaction

The differential cross section for the H + D(2) --> HD + D reaction has been measured using a technique called reaction product imaging. In this experiment, a photolytically produced beam of hydrogen (H) atoms crossed a beam of cold deuterium (D(2)) molecules. Product D atoms were ionized at the intersection of the two particle beams and accelerated toward a position-sensitive detector. The ion images appearing on the detector are two-dimensional projections of the three-dimensional velocity distribution of the D atom products. The reaction was studied at nominal center-of-mass collision energies of 0.54 and 1.29 electron volts. At the lower collision energy, the measured differential cross section for D atom production, summed over all final states of the HD(v,J) product, is in good agreement with recent quasi-classical trajectory calculations. At the higher collision energy, the agreement between the theoretical predictions and experimental results is less favorable.