Stereodynamics
of the collisional reaction between mutually aligned
or oriented reactants has been a striking topic of chemical dynamics
for decades. However, the stereodynamic aspects are scarcely revealed
for the low-energy collision with a randomly oriented target. Here
in the dissociative charge-exchange reaction between randomly oriented
O2 and low-energy Ar+, we, using the three-dimensional
ion velocity map imaging technique, clearly observe a linear alignment
and a nearly isotropic distribution of the O+ yields along
the collision axis. These observations are rationalized with the Doppler
kinetic models in which the O2 bond is assumed to be parallel
or unparallel to the collision axis of the large impact parameter
collision. The linearly aligned O+, as the predominant
yield, is produced in the parallel collision, while a rotating O2
+, as the intermediate in the unparallel collision,
leads to the isotropic distribution of O+.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.