Reply to the comment on “Lifetimes of vibrational levels in the B̃ 2A′ state of HCO”

The preceding Comment by Bitto and Carter objects to our interpretation of the weak quantum beats observed for particular rovibrational states of B̃ 2A′ HCO in the title article and postulates that the observed beats are anisotropic hyperfine quantum beats. We concur with their Comment, acknowledge the conceptual errors in our initial interpretation, and provide additional evidence in support of their new interpretation. The other results and conclusions of the title article remain unchanged.