Vibrationally and rotationally resolved angular distributions for F+H₂→HF(v′,j′)+H reactive scattering

Angular distributions for individually resolved v′,j′ states from the F+H₂→HF(v′,j′)+H chemical reaction are measured for the first time. Vibrational and rotational resolution is achieved simultaneously by applying laser+bolometer detection techniques to crossed-beam reactive scattering. In addition to backward-scattering HF(v′=1, j′=6) and HF(v′=2, j′=5), we also observe HF(v′=1, j′=6) products scattered into the forward hemisphere. The results are in qualitative agreement with fully three-dimensional exact quantum reactive scattering calculations [Castillo et al., J. Chem. Phys. 104, 6531 (1996)] which were conducted on an accurate potential-energy surface [Stark and Werner, J. Chem. Phys. 104, 6515 (1996)]. However, the forward-scattered HF(v′=1, j′=6) observed in this experiment is not reproduced by quasi-classical calculations [Aoiz et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 223, 215 (1994)] on the same potential-energy surface.