The H+D2 reaction: HD(ν=1, J) and HD(ν=2, J) distributions at a collision energy of 1.3 eV

Complete quantum state distributions for HD (ν= 1) and HD (ν= 2) are obtained by photolyzing HI at 266 nm in the presence of D2 and detecting the nascent HD product via (2+1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI). Calibration against an effusive oven source (⩽ 1800 K) yields any necessary correction factors to relate the integrated ion signals to relative quantum state populations. Comparisons are made with previously published experimental results of Gerrity and Valentini and of Marinero, Rettner and Zare as well as with quasiclassical trajectory calculations of Blais and Truhlar. Although the combined experimental data agree well with the quasiclassical trajectory calculations of Blais and Truhlar, it is suggested that the latter yield rotational distributions which are slightly too hot.