Crossed-beam reaction of O(1D)+D2→OD+D by velocity map imaging

The technique of velocity map imaging [Eppink and Parker, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 68 (1997) 3477] has been applied to the reaction O(1D)+D2→OD+D under single-collision conditions in crossed molecular beams at a collision energy (Ecoll) of 2.4 kcal/mol. Images of the reactively scattered D-atom product were recorded, yielding the full double differential cross-sections (energy and angle) for the reaction. The translational energy and angular distributions are observed to be strongly coupled, with the forward-scattered products showing the largest translational energy release and the sideways-scattered products the lowest translational energy release.