Single-collision studies of hot atom energy transfer and chemical reaction

This report discusses research in the collision dynamics of translationally hot atoms, with funding with DOE for the project Single-Collision Studies of Hot Atom Energy Transfer and Chemical Reaction,'' Grant Number DE-FG03-85ER13453. The work reported here was done during the period September 9, 1988 through October 31, 1991. During this period this DOE-funded work has been focused on several different efforts: (1) experimental studies of the state-to-state dynamics of the H + RH {yields} H{sub 2} R reactions where RH is CH{sub 4}, C{sub 2}H{sub 6}, or C{sub 3}H{sub 8}, (2) theoretical (quasiclassical trajectory) studies of hot hydrogen atom collision dynamics, (3) the development of photochemical sources of translationally hot molecular free radicals and characterization of the high resolution CARS spectroscopy of molecular free radicals, (4) the implementation of stimulated Raman excitation (SRE) techniques for the preparation of vibrationally state-selected molecular reactants.