Translational energy dependence of reaction mechanism: Xe++CH4→XeH++CH3

Abstract

The dynamics of the exoergic ion–molecule reaction Xe+(CH4,CH3)XeH+ were studied by chemical accelerator techniques over the relative translational energy range 0.2 to 8 eV. Results of the kinematicmeasurements are reported as scattering intensity contour maps in Cartesian velocity space. Center‐of‐mass angular and energy distributions, derived from these maps, provide information on the reaction mechanism and on the partitioning of available energy between internal and translational modes in the products. The results suggest that reaction proceeds via the formation of a long‐lived complex at low collision energies (below 0.5 eV) and by a direct mechanism approaching spectator stripping at higher energies.