First determination of the branching rations between reactive removal and vibrational relaxation in collisions of OH(X2-Pi(sub i), nu = 1 and 2) with CH4

The overall rate constants for the collisions or vibrationally-excited OH(X2-Pi-(sub i), nu = 1-4) with CH4 were determined. The absolute rate constants for the reactive and nonreactive removal of OH(nu) were obtained by linear regression method and the previously determined nascent vibrational distribution of OH. The results showed that even a single quantum excitation of the OH vibration hastens the reactive removal of OH by CH4.