Fig. 4: The role of DM and IM mechanisms on the topology of Ne* + Ar, N2, NH3 stereo-dynamics.
From: The topology of the reaction stereo-dynamics in chemi-ionizations
a Comparison between the different dependence on intermolecular distance R of Γ components determining direct mechanism (DM) and indirect mechanism (IM) in the selected channels of CHEMI. The overall ionization width for each investigated system is approximately given by the sum of the two correlated Γ-functions plotted35. b Branching ratios, defined as ΓDM/(ΓDM + ΓIM) and, ΓIM/(ΓDM + ΓIM) are here plotted as a function of R. c The behavior of the Cx marker tracing coefficient for Ne*(3P2,0) + N2 CHEMI involving the precursor state in a collinear configuration. d A schematic cartoon illustrates the DM and IM mechanisms for the same reaction. DM, triggered by strong chemical forces, occurs with a direct electron transfer between valence orbital of reagents. IM, stimulated by anisotropic weak interactions as polarization, spin-orbit, and Coriolis contributions, involves a changing of the atomic/molecular alignment and a mixing of atomic levels and molecular states of different symmetry23,29,41,47. IM can promote, in addition to a stimulated electron transfer, also a virtual photon exchange between reagents giving to a photo-ionization.
