Vibrationally and rotationally resolved angular distributions for F+H-2->HF(nu',j')+H reactive scattering

Angular distributions for individually resolved nu',j' states from the F+H-2-->HF(nu'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(nu'=1, j'=6) and HF(nu'=2, j'=5), we also observe HF(nu'=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(nu'=1,j'=6) observed in this experiment is not reproduced by quasi-classical calculations [Aoiz et nl., Chem. Phys. Lett. 223, 215 (1994)] on the same potential-energy surface. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.