Laser fluorescence study of the S(1D) + CD4 reaction: determination of the SD product internal state distribution

The dynamics of the S(1D) + CD4 → SD + CD3 reaction has been studied in a photolysis-probe experiment. S(1D) reagent was prepared by laser photolysis of CS2, and the SD(X2Π) product was detected by laser fluorescence excitation. The nascent rotational/fine-structure state distribution of the SD(X2Π) product was determined. The experimentally determined rotational state distribution within each fine-structure manifold agrees well with the predictions of a statistical ‘prior’ distribution, while the F1 to F2 fine-structure branching ratio is higher than predicted statistically. The product state distribution is consistent with reaction through the formation and decay of an energized CD3SD complex.