Translational to vibrational and rotational (T→V,R) energy transfer and reactive exchange collisions of H(D)+HF(DF) in the energy range from 1 to 2 eV by time-resolved Fourier transform spectroscopy

The product state distributions for hot atom collisions of H(D) with HF(DF) with a broad range of collision energies between 1.2 eV and 2.3eV are measured with time-resolved Fourier transform spectroscopy and rotational resolution under multiple collision conditions. In most cases the vibrational distributions of reactive and nonreactive channels can be distinguished. All rotational distributions have a similar appearance with a maximum at J=5 and an additional pronounced higher component, which cannot be described by a single Boltzmann distribution. The results are compared with recent three dimensional quasiclassical trajectory calculations (accompanying paper by Schatz) by applying a multiple collision model for both the H(D) atom slowdown and the rotational and vibrational relaxation. The rotational distributions can also be interpreted by a three dimensional asymmetric breathing ellipsoid model. copyright 1997 American Institute of Physics