Stereodynamics in reaction O(1D) + CH4 → OH + CH3

A theoretical study of the stereodynamics for reaction O(D-1) + CH4 -> OH + CH3 has been carried out using the quasiclassical trajectory method (QCT) on a potential energy surface structured by Gonzalez et al. The integral cross sections (ICSs), differential cross sections (DCSs) and product rotational angular momentum polarization have been calculated. With the collision energy increasing, the ICS decreases. There is no threshold energy, because no barrier is found on the minimum energy path. The DCS results show that the backward and forward scatterings exist at the same time. With the collision energy increasing, the dominant rotation of the product changes from the right-handed direction to the left-handed direction in planes parallel to the scattering plane. In the isotopic effect study, the decrease of the mass factor weakens the polarization degree of the rotational angular momentum vectors of the products.