Dynamics of atom-diatom reactions at the low energy regime

Abstract

The dynamics of some atom-diatom reactions has been investigated in the low collision energy regime (Ecoll < 10^-1 eV). The possibility of complex-forming mechanisms is analyzed by means of a statistical quantum method in comparison with quantum mechanical results and experimental measurements. The case of the H^+ + H_2 reaction, and isotopic variants, for which a significant dependence on the energy range has been reported before, is treated in detail. Recent studies on the D^+ + H_2 reaction found theoretical rate coefficients in a good agreement with experiment down to 10^-3 eV . Similar investigations in other reactions such as Li+YbLi and He+NeH^+ are discussed.