Chemical reaction dynamics with molecular beams

This review describes advances which have occurred during the past Adecade in chemical reaction dynamics using crossed molecular beams. After a brief Ahistorical introduction, advances in the generation and state selection of beams of reactants, Aand in the schemes for product detection, which are at the basis of our increased ability to Ameasure state-averaged and state-resolved reactive differential cross sections in crossed beam Aexperiments, are described. The novel couplings of laser and synchrotron radiation to these Aexperiments are noted. A selection of case studies are considered in some detail, to exemplify Arecent improvements in our understanding of gas-phase neutral reaction dynamics. The examples Ainclude prototype reactions involving three-atom and four-atom systems, and the results Aare discussed in the light of the most recent, synergistic, theoretical developments for treating Aboth the potential energy surfaces and the reaction dynamics. Progress made in studies of Areactions of molecular radicals and of chemically important atoms, such as carbon, nitrogen, and Aoxygen, with polyatomic molecules, as made possible by recent developments in the classic Acrossed beam technique with mass spectrometric detection, is emphasized. Some complementary Atechniques that recently have contributed to our understanding of chemical reactivity are also Adescribed briefly.