Dynamics Study of the O + HO2 Reaction Using Two DMBE Potential Energy Surfaces: The Role of Vibrational Excitation

Abstract

We investigate the effect of vibrational excitation on the dynamics and kinetics of the atmospheric reaction O(3P) + HO2 → OH + O2 using two double many-body expansion potential energy surfaces previously reported. The results show that such an effect is relatively minor even considering HO2 with contents of vibrational excitation close to the H + O2 dissociation asymptote. It should therefore not bear drastic implications in atmospheric modeling where such an effect has been ignored thus far.