Dissociative charge exchange dynamics of HN2(+) and DN2(+)

Translational spectroscopy coupled with coincidence detection techniques has been used to study the dissociation dynamics of ground state H/D+N(2) products resulting from charge exchange between keV beams of HN(2)(+)/DN(2)(+) and cesium. Analysis of the product kinetic energy release suggests that dissociation of HN(2) and DN(2) proceeds from initial populations in the (2)A("), 2 (2)A('), and 3s Rydberg electronic states of the neutral molecule. Although all three excited electronic states must eventually couple to the 1 (2)A(') ground state of HN(2)/DN(2), the resulting dissociation dynamics exhibit a significant dependence on the initial electronic state. Potential mechanisms are discussed in light of the observed product kinetic energy release distributions.