Observation of OH angular momentum polarization produced by H+O2 at 2.6 eV collision energy

The OH rotational polarization produced by the reaction of fast H atoms from the polarized 193 nm photolysis of HBr with O₂ (2.6 eV collision energy) has been measured by laser-induced fluorescence using polarized analysis light. A strong rotational polarization parallel to the electric vector of the dissociation laser and perpendicular to the flight direction of the H atoms is observed. Implications for the H+O₂ reaction dynamics at high collision energies are discussed.