We theoretically
analyze the differential cross sections (DCSs)
for the state-to-state reaction, H + HD(
v
i
= 0,
j
i
= 0,
m
i
= 0) → H
2
(
v
f
= 0,
j
f
= 1,2,3,
m
f
= 1,..,
j
f
) + D, over the whole
range of scattering angles, where
v
,
j
, and
m
are the vibrational, rotational, and helicity
quantum numbers for the initial and final states. The analysis extends
and complements previous calculations for the same state-to-state
reaction, which had
j
f
= 0,1,2,3 and
m
f
= 0, as reported by
Xiahou
C.
Connor
J. N. L.
Xiahou
C.
Connor
J. N. L.
34096934
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.
2021
23
13349
13369
. Motivation comes from the state-of-the-art experiments and simulations
of
Yuan
Yuan
29686377
Nature Chem.
2018
10
653
658
who have measured, for the first time, fast oscillations
in the small-angle region of the degeneracy-averaged DCSs for
j
f
= 1 and 3 as well as slow oscillations in
the large-angle region. We start with the partial wave series (PWS)
for the scattering amplitude expanded in a basis set of reduced rotation
matrix elements. Then our main theoretical tools are two variants
of Nearside-Farside (NF) theory applied to six transitions: (1) We
apply unrestricted, restricted, and restrictedΔ NF decompositions
to the PWS including resummations. The restricted and restrictedΔ
NF DCSs correctly go to zero in the forward and backward directions
when
m
f
> 0, unlike the unrestricted
NF
DCSs, which incorrectly go to infinity. We also exploit the Local
Angular Momentum theory to provide additional insights into the reaction
dynamics. Properties of reduced rotation matrix elements of the second
kind play an important role in the NF analysis, together with their
caustics. (2) We apply an approximate N theory at intermediate and
large angles, namely, the Semiclassical Optical Model of Herschbach.
We show there are two different reaction mechanisms. The fast oscillations
at small angles (sometimes called Fraunhofer diffraction/oscillations)
are an NF interference effect. In contrast, the slow oscillations
at intermediate and large angles are an N effect, which arise from
a direct scattering, and are a “distorted mirror image”
mechanism. We also compare these results with the experimental data.