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Quantum interference between spin-orbit split partial waves in the F+HD→HF+D reaction

Yuan, Daofu, University of Science and Technology of China, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8461-6889
Chen, Wentao, University of Science and Technology of China
Wang, Ransheng, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
Zhao, Hailin, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
Luo, Chang, University of Science and Technology of China
Tan, Yuxin, University of Science and Technology of China
Li, Shihao, University of Science and Technology of China
Zhang, Donghui, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
Wang, Xingan, University of Science and Technology of China
Sun, Zhigang, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
Yang, Xueming, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
ydfu@ustc.edu.cn, cwt2010@mail.ustc.edu.cn, rshwang@dicp.ac.cn, zhaohl@dicp.ac.cn, lc2012@mail.ustc.edu.cn, tyx17@mail.ustc.edu.cn, shl18@mail.ustc.edu.cn, zhangdh@dicp.ac.cn, xawang@ustc.edu.cn, zsun@dicp.ac.cn, xmyang@dicp.ac.cn
Published Feb 15, 2021 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2547d7wpr

Cite this dataset

Yuan, Daofu et al. (2021). Quantum interference between spin-orbit split partial waves in the F+HD→HF+D reaction [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2547d7wpr

Abstract

The effect of electron spin-orbit interactions on chemical reaction dynamics has been a topic of much research interest. Here we report a combined experimental and theoretical study on the effect of electron spin and orbital angular momentum in the F + HD → HF + D reaction. Using a high-resolution imaging technique, we observed a peculiar horseshoe-shaped pattern in the product rotational-state–resolved differential cross sections around the forward-scattering direction. The unusual dynamics pattern could only be explained properly by highly accurate quantum dynamics theory when full spinorbit characteristics were considered. Theoretical analysis revealed that the horseshoe pattern was largely the result of quantum interference between spin-orbit split–partial-wave resonances with positive and negative parities, providing a distinctive example of how spin-orbit interaction can effectively influence reaction dynamics.