Energy dependent stereodynamics of the Ne($^3$P$_2$)+Ar reaction

TL;DR

This study investigates how the stereodynamics of the Ne($^3$P$_2$)+Ar reaction vary with energy, revealing state-dependent reactivities and comparing experimental results with theoretical predictions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental approach using magnetic polarization to study energy-dependent stereodynamics in Ne-Ar reactions, providing detailed state-dependent reactivity data.

Findings

Reactivities depend on the $ ext{Omega}$ state of Ne($^3$P$_2$).

Experimental results agree with theoretical predictions.

Reactivities vary across the collision energy range.

Abstract

The stereodynamics of the Ne($^3$P$_2$)+Ar Penning and Associative ionization reactions have been studied using a crossed molecular beam apparatus. The experiment uses a curved magnetic hexapole to polarise the Ne($^3$P$_2$) which is then oriented with a shaped magnetic field in the region where it intersects with a beam of Ar($^1$S). The ratios of Penning to associative ionization were recorded over a range of collision energies from 320 cm$^{-1}$ to 500 cm$^{-1}$ and the data was used to obtain $\Omega$ state dependent reactivities for the two reaction channels. These reactivities were found to compare favourably to those predicted in the theoretical work of Brumer et al.