Reaction dynamics of O(3P)+H2(v=1)

The reaction dynamics of O(3P) and H2(v=1) have been studied experimentally by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection of the radical OH(X2Π, v=0,1). The reactant H2(v=1) is prepared by stimulated Raman pumping (SRP). The Λ-doublet states are found to be selectively populated in the vibrational ground state, with the X2Π(A′)/X2Π(A″) ratio ranging from 1.4 at low J to 2.3 in the high J limit. OH(X2Π, v=1) was observed, and the OH(v″=0)/OH(v″=1) ratio was estimated to be ⩾25. Possible mechanisms are discussed.