Observation of correlated excitations in bimolecular collisions.

摘要: Although collisions between atoms and molecules are largely understood, two have proven much harder to study. In both experiment theory, our ability determine quantum-state-resolved bimolecular cross-sections lags behind their atom–molecule counterparts by decades. For many systems, even rules of thumb—much less intuitive understanding—of scattering cross sections lacking. Here, we report the measurement state-to-state differential on collision state-selected velocity-controlled nitric oxide (NO) radicals oxygen (O2) molecules. Using velocity map imaging scattered NO radicals, full product-pair correlations rotational excitation that occurs in partners from individual encounters revealed. The correlated show surprisingly good agreement with quantum calculations using ab initio NO−O2 potential energy surfaces. observations well-known energy-gap law governs does not generally apply processes, reveal a propensity rule for vector correlation product angular momenta. Collisions understood; however, understanding is lacking because they significantly study, Now, excitations been observed inelastic O2 It shown processes.