Reaction dynamics of V(a4FJ)+NO-->VO(X 4Sigma-)+N studied by a crossed-beam laser-induced fluorescence technique

The dynamics of the reaction, V(a 4FJ)+NO-->VO(X 4Sigma-)+N was studied by using a crossed-beam technique at 16.4 kJ/mol of collision energy. The V atomic beam was generated by laser vaporization and crossed with the O2 beam at a right angle. The laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) for the transition of VO(B 4Pi-X 4Sigma) was used to determine the rotational state distribution of the reaction product in the vibrational ground state. Almost pure V(a 4FJ) beam was obtained by using the mixture of NH3 with N2 as a carrier gas. Comparing the LIF spectra of VO measured for two carrier gases, i.e., NH3N2 and pure N2, it was concluded that the vibrational ground state of VO(X 4Sigma-) is formed almost entirely from the reaction of V(a 4FJ) and the contribution of the metastable V(a 6DJ) is negligible. The observed rotational distribution was similar to a statistical prior prediction, and suggested that the title reaction proceeds via a long-lived intermediate, which is consistent with an electron transfer mechanism.