Multiple dynamical pathways in the O(1D)+CH4 reaction: A comprehensive crossed beam study

Abstract

In this report, the O(1D)+CH4 reaction has been reinvestigated using universal crossed molecular beam methods. Angular resolved time-of-flight spectra have been measured for various reaction channels of the title reaction: OH+CH3, H+H2COH/H3CO, and H2+HCOH/H2CO. Different product angular distributions have been observed for these product channels, indicating that these reaction channels occur via distinctive dynamical pathways. This study provides an excellent example of multiple dynamical pathways in a single chemical reaction, which opens enormous opportunities in investigating the dynamics of complicated chemical reactions that are important in combustion and atmospheric chemistry, and also provides a link between kinetics studies and dynamical research.