Alignment of D2(<i>v</i>,<i> J</i>) desorbed from Cu(111): Low sensitivity of activated dissociative chemisorption to approach geometry

Abstract

We have determined the alignment of D2(v,J) desorbed from Cu(111). The measurements reveal a small preference for ‘‘helicoptering’’ motion that increases with increasing J. At low J, the alignments are much smaller than predicted by recent calculations. We believe that the anisotropic potential may scramble the alignment as the molecules leave the surface.