Quasiclassical trajectory study of the N(4S) + NO(X2∏) → N2 (X 1Σg+) + O(3P) reaction cross section on the excited 3A′ NNO surface

Energy-dependent cross sections for the N(4S)+NO(X 2∏) → N2(X 1Σg+)+O(3P) reaction are calculated over the 0.1 – 3 eV relative translational energy range using the quasiclassical trajectory approach on the ground state 3A″ and excited 3A′ potential energy surfaces neglecting spin-orbit coupling. The dependence of the reaction cross section on the initial NO vibrational energy is also investigated. Representative vibrational and rotational distributions of the resulting N2 molecule are given. The motivation of this study is the possibility that the reaction acts as a sink of non-thermal N(4S) atoms in the terrestrial thermosphere.