Reactive scattering of alkali dimers K₂ + I₂, CH₂I₂, CHI₃, CBr₄

Abstract

Angular distribution measurements of KX reactive scattering of a potassium dimer K₂ beam by I₂ and by a series of halomethane molecules are reported. The K₂ + I₂ reactive scattering is similar to that previously observed for K₂ + Br₂. The predominant reaction path yields K + KI + I with the K and KI product recoiling in the forward direction. However, the forward peak of the KI differential cross section is lower than that for K from K₂ + I₂ and is broader than that observed for KBr from K₂ + Br₂. This is attributed to slow dissociation of the I ₂ ^- ion formed in the electron jump mechanism previously proposed for K₂ + Br₂. In the halomethane reactions, both alkali atoms of the K₂ dimer become bound alkali halide molecules in all reactive collisions, despite the direct dynamics of the corresponding supersonic K atom reactions. Thus, these reactions provide compelling evidence for a second electron jump mechanism, previously proposed for the reactions of K₂ dimers with polyhalide molecules. The differential cross sections for the K₂ dimer plus halomethane reactions indicate an osculating collision complex with a lifetime at least comparable to its rotational period, perhaps much longer. This reaction complex is identified with the doubly ionic state formed by the second electron jump transition.