Transition-State Spectroscopy of Partial Wave Resonances in the F + HD Reaction

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1185694
• Publication Date: 2010-03-18T18:40:33Z
• Authors: Wenrui Dong; Chunlei Xiao; Tao Wang; Dongxu Dai; Xueming Yang; Dong H. Zhang
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 01 natural sciences

Partial wave resonances, quasi-bound resonance states with well-defined rotation in the transition state region of a chemical reaction, play governing role reaction dynamics but have eluded direct experimental characterization. Here, we report observation individual partial resolved resonances F + HD --> HF D by measuring collision energy-dependent, angle- and state-resolved differential cross section extremely high resolution, providing spectroscopic probe to D. The agreement data high-level theoretical calculations confirms sensitivity this subtle quantum mechanical factors guiding benchmark reaction.