Abstract
The endothermic H+O2→OH+O reaction is important in combustion processes. The system is characterized by a nonlinear intermediate, HO2. A modified LEPS surface is described which can successfully model this bent intermediate. Trajectory calculations using this surface indicate a considerable enhancement in the reaction probability due to vibrational excitation of the O2 molecule. The contribution to the total rate constant from the higher vibrational levels of O2 (v=4,5,6) appears to be significant at the high temperatures (1600 °K and above) encountered in combustion processes.