Below are a few representative studies detailing how product yields vary with the collision energy of the incident molecular ion. Classical trajectory calculations demonstrate that the relatively high threshold is consistent with an impulsive dissociation mechanism. Here, a portion of the incident translational energy is transferred upon impact into rovibrational energy within the diatom. The scattered NO - yield shows a pronounced dependence on the collision energy despite the overall reaction being nearly thermoneutral.
Neutralization is facile on the incident trajectory.
Electron attachment to form NO - involves nonadiabatic coupling, a process which exhibits a higher transition probability with increasing collision energy. This was confirmed through a measurement of the scattered O - kinetic energy distribution. The OS- product channel is particularly interesting, because it arises from removal of the central carbon atom. The appearance threshold for OS- is at 30 eV, suggestive of a sharply bent transition state, accessed only at high collision energies when impact severely distorts the incident molecule. To Jacobs Research Interests.