Imaging the Collision Energy-Dependent Charge-Transfer Dynamics between the Spin–Orbit Ground Ar⁺(²P_3/2) Ion and CO

The collisional charge-transfer reaction between Ar⁺(²P_3/2,1/2) and CO represents one of the most studied ion–molecule systems; many controversies persist among different studies, and the detailed quantum state-to-state charge-transfer dynamics remains unknown. Here, differential cross sections of the charge-transfer process between the spin–orbit ground Ar⁺(²P_3/2) ion and CO are reported at three center-of-mass collision energies of 1.02, 0.72, and 0.40 eV using a home-built three-dimensional velocity-map imaging-based ion–molecule crossed beam setup. At all three collision energies, the direct energy resonant charge-transfer mechanism dominates the reaction, featuring predominantly forward scattering with the CO⁺ product population peaking at the v′ = 6 and v′ = 7 vibrational levels. Only at the lowest collision energy of 0.40 eV is the significant backward peaked scattering product observed, with CO⁺ populated from v′ = 4 to v′ = 8. There is no obvious evidence for the formation of CO⁺ in excited electronic state A²Π⁺, in qualitative accord with previous theoretical predictions.