Dynamics of ion—molecule processes: A crossed-beam study of the reaction B+(3P) + H2 → BH+ + H

Dynamics of the reaction B⁺(³P) + H₂ → BH⁺ + H has been studied in crossed-beam scattering experiments in the collision-energy range 0.6–2.3 eV (c.m.). Scattering diagrams obtained show that in the reaction both the ground state BH⁺(²Σ⁺) and the excited state BH⁺(² Π) (if energetically accessible) are formed; both states are formed via intermediate complexes whose mean lifetimes are of the order of 10^?13 s and decrease with increasing collision energy, as reflected in the decreasing forward-backward symmetry of the scattering diagrams.