A Role of rotational energy transfer in H ortho-para conversion

Hオルト-パラ転換における回転エネルギー移動

植田 寛和   ; 福谷 克之

Ueta, Hirokazu; Fukutani, Katsuyuki

H has two nuclear spin isomers, ortho-H (o-H) and para-H (p-H). Due to symmetry restriction, o-H and p-H with parallel and antiparallel proton spins have odd and even rotational states, respectively. Interconversion between these two species, ortho-to-para (o-p) conversion is of great interest not only from a fundamental point of view but also in industrial applications such as H liquification and storage. While the radiative o-p conversion is forbidden in the gas phase, the conversion is promoted on various surfaces. The o-p conversion is completed by the nuclear spin flip and the rotational energy transfer. The former process has been paid much attention in previous o-p conversion studies, but the detail of the latter one remains unclear. In this contribution, we deal with the o-p conversion of molecularly chemisorbed H on Pd(210). This system allows us to probe the o-p conversion at a wider range of surface temperature as compared with physisorption systems. A combination of a pulsed molecular beam, photo-stimulated desorption and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization techniques is used to probe time evolution of o-H and p-H populations. Figure 1 shows that o-p conversion occurs with a conversion time of about 2 sec at a surface temperature of 50 K. To obtain insight into a role of rotational energy transfer in o-p conversion, we further study the surface temperature dependence of o-p conversion and the reverse process of p-o back conversion. From the results obtained the conversion mechanism will be discussed.