Nascent Vibrational State Distributions of ZnH(X 2∑+) and ZnD(X 2∑+) Produced in the Reactions of Zn(41P1) With H2 and D2

The reactions of Zn(4 1 P 1 ) with H 2 and D 2 were studied by employing a laser pump-and-probe technique. The nascent vibrational state distributions of ZnH(X 2∑ + ) and ZnD(X 2∑ + ) were determined. The distributions were much cooler than the statistically expected ones. These results are consistent with the insertive attack model proposed for other excited metal-H 2 systems. The quantum yield for the production of ZnH(X 2∑ + ) was measured to be low; around 0.5 of that for cn4. Three-body dissociation processes to produce Zn(4 1 S 0 ) + H + H must be more dominant than the production of ZnH.