Electronic excitation of OH and OD following collision of H2, HCOOH and D2O with metastable Ar (3 P 2,0) atoms

Abstract

Electronically excited OH and OD (A2Σ+) molecules in various vibrational and rotational states are formed during the dissociative excitation of H2O, HCOOH and D2O induced by impact with metastable excited Ar(3P2,0) atoms. The initial rotational population distributions of OH (A2Σ+, v′= 0) from Ar*+ H2O, and of OH in the closely related dissociative photon impact with H2O, are different. Detailed energy balances for the collision processes are considered, and the role of predissociation of OH (A2Σ+) is discussed. The rotational population distributions are discussed in terms of Carrington's description 1 of the dissociative fragmentation of excited H2O.