Molecular recombination pathways of oxygen from quasiclassical trajectory calculations of the O3system

The pathways for molecular recombination of oxygen is examined based on quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculations of the O3 system described by the 11A' surface of Varga. This study focuses specifically on identifying indirect recombination pathways based on a two-step collision process for dilute gases. The principle of orbiting pairs is discussed, and these intermediate states are found to provide a viable pathway for both Lindemann and Chaperon (indirect) recombination mechanisms. These indirect mechansisms, as well as direct threebody recombination mechanisms, are found to lead to O2 recombination from analysis of the QCT results. The significance of these pathways are discussed, and the overall recombination cross section is found to favor recombination into high-lying internal energy states.