Effects of rotational excitation on vibrationally excited reaction of F+H₂ (v=1, j=1)→HF+H at collision energy of 0.62 kcal/mol^†

The F+H₂ reaction has long been a benchmark system in reaction dynamics. We report here a combined experimental and theoretical study on the F+H₂(v=1, j=1) reaction at a collision energy of 0.62 kcal/mol. The rotational state-resolved differential cross sections (DCSs) as well as the integral cross sections (ICSs) were obtained by the crossed beam experiment and the quantum dynamical calculation. It is found that the rotationally excited state F+H₂(v=1, j=1) reaction produces rotationally hotter but vibrationally colder products, compared with the rotational ground state reaction at the same total energy. The stereodynamics of the F+H₂(v=1, j=1) reaction is also analyzed theoretically, showing that minor differences exist for the reactants initially prepared in different spatial alignments.