Vibrationally-dependent molecular dynamics in mutual neutralisation reactions of molecular oxygen ions
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Product distributions and dynamics of low-collision-energy mutual neutralisation reactions involving even simple molecular ions are largely unknown. Reactions which involve oxygen ions, e.g., $${{{\rm{O}}}}_{2}^{+}$$ O 2 + with O − , are expected to be important in atmospheric phenomena such as sprites and in high-pressure air or oxygen discharges. Here we show, by combining cryogenically stored-and-merged ion beams with coincident product-imaging techniques, that the $${{{\rm{O}}}}_{2}^{+}$$ O 2 + with O − mutual neutralisation reaction results predominantly in dissociation of the $${{{\rm{O}}}}_{2}^{+}$$ O 2 + molecule. Three competing reaction pathways yields both O( 3 P) (84%) and O( 1 D) (16%) products, but no O( 1 S) products. Analysis of the momentum-correlated dynamics of the reaction reveals the dominance of two-step mechanisms involving the 3p λ u and 3s σ g Rydberg states of O 2 . Furthermore, use of the 16,18 $${{{\rm{O}}}}_{2}^{+}$$ O 2 + isotopologue shows that the reaction products strongly depend on the vibrational levels of the $${{{\rm{O}}}}_{2}^{+}$$ O 2 + ion for the channel leading to two O( 1 D) products.
Source: Nature Communications
Language: English
Topic: Atomic and Molecular Physics
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Awards: G1416571392, G1523888516, Complex carbonaceous molecules and clusters: Charge exchange, energy transfer, and molecular growth, G3112215562, TRADITIONAL: 36 MONTHS, FOREIGN ** FAADC MIGRATION NOTE - ACTION TYPE:"1" TO "A", ASSISTANCE TYPE:"4" TO "04", RECORD TYPE:"2", BUSINESS FUNDS INDICATOR:"NON", INDIVIDUAL RECIPIENT INDICATOR:"NO", RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDS INDICATOR:"YES", COMPETED OPPORTUNITY:"1" TO "C", NUMBER OF PROPOSALS OR APPLICATIONS:"1", AWARDING SUB-TIER AGENCY CODE "5700" DERIVED FROM AWARDING OFFICE CODE "FA9550", FUNDING SUB-TIER AGENCY CODE "5700" DERIVED FROM FUNDING OFFICE CODE "F3BB00", PPOP COUNTRY CODE:"SWE", PPOP FOREIGN LOCATION DESCRIPTION SET TO PPOP COUNTRY NAME "SWEDEN", SMALL BUSINESS INDICATOR:"O", SAM EXCEPTION:"X" **, G3497515329, DESIREE (Double ElectroStatic Ion Ring ExpEriment), G4172801602, G4222213755, G5149496993, G5376754497, G5488579121, G5902886839, Mutual neutralization experiments with atomic and small molecular ions, R&D, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, IN THE AREA OF CHEMISTRY, Extended areas of application of DESIREE by new instrumentation
OpenAlex ID: W4414534930