DYNAMICS OF THE NH(X3-SIGMA-)+NO(X2-PI) REACTION - INTERNAL STATE DISTRIBUTION OF THE OH(X2-PI) PRODUCT

The dynamics of the NH(X(3)SIGMA-) + NO(X(2)PI) --> OH(X(2)PI) + N2(X(1)SIGMA(g)+ reaction has been investigated by measurement of the nascent OH product internal state distribution in a crossed-beam experiment. The OH upsilon = 1 to upsilon = 0 vibrational population ratio was determined to be 0.30 +/- 0.06, and the average rotational energy was found to be 25 +/- 1 kJ/mol. A selectivity for formation of the lower (2)PI(3/2) spin-orbit levels over (2)PI(1/2) was also found. In addition, the PI(A') LAMBDA-doublet levels were preferentially formed over PI(A"). The implications of the results of this experiment, as well as earlier studies of the related H + N2O reaction, on the dynamics of these reactions are discussed.