Internal state distribution of OD produced from the O(3P)+ND2 reaction

The internal state distribution of the OD product from the O(3P)+ND2 reaction was determined in a crossed beam experiment. Rotational state populations in the OD v=0 vibrational level, and an upper bound to the v=1 to v=0 ratio, were derived from A 2Σ+–X 2Π laser fluorescence spectra. The OD internal state distribution was found to be very cold, with only ∼8% of the available product energy appearing as OD excitation. While this reaction is believed to proceed through D2NO and DNOD intermediates, the observed rotational state distribution is much colder than those predicted by statistical theories. The implications of these experimental results for the reaction dynamics are discussed.