Determination of the quenching rates of N2+(B2Σu+, ν = 0,1) By N2 using laser-induced fluorescence

Time-resolved fluorescence laser-induced spectroscopy was used to examine the quenching of the vibrational levels ν = 0 and ν = 1 of N₂⁺(B²Σ_u⁺) by N₂. The rate coefficients of the quenching reactions are found to be constant over the temperature range 300–500 K. The quenching constant for the ν = 1 state was found to be approximately twice the value of the quenching constant of the ν = 0 state.     

Enhancement of vibrational level population of N2 and CO by photoelectron spectrometry

Photoionization of N₂ and CO by 736–744 Å doublet lines from a Ne I resonance discharge gives photoelectron spectra which show that all vibrational levels of N₂⁺, X²Σ_g⁺, and CO⁺, X²Σ⁺, situated below the ν′ = 0 level of the first excited ionic state, are populated. An autoionizing mechanism is proposed to interpret this result, as in the case of O₂ and NO.     

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization of molecular hydrogen via the E,F1Σg+ state: Photoelectron energy and angular distributions

Photoelectron energy and angular distributions are measured for the 2+1 multiphoton ionization process H₂ X¹Σ_g⁺ (ν = 0,J) + 2hv → E,F¹Σ_g⁺(ν_E,J_E = J) + hν → H₂⁺X²Σ_g⁺ (ν⁺) + e^?, for ν_E = 0, 1, or 2 and for J_E = 0 or 1 of the inner well of the double-minimum E,F state. Although a strong preference is found for ν⁺ = ν_E, the detailed H₂⁺ vibrational distribution does not exhibit Franck-Condon behavior, and the photoelectron angular distributions vary markedly with both the J_E value of the intermediate state and the ν⁺ value of the ion.     

Electronic-to-vibrational energy transfer reactions: Na(3 2P) + CO (X1Σ+, υ=0)

The vibrational distribution of CO produced from the electronic-to-vibrational energy transfer reaction: Na(3²P) + CO(X¹Σ⁺, υ=0)→Na(3²S) + CO(X¹Σ⁺, υ?8) has been determined by means of infrared resonance absorption measurements employing a cw CO laser. A flash-lamp-pumped dye laser is used to excite the ground state Na to the 3²P_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} and 3²P_{$\text{3}\text{2}$} states. The CO molecules formed in the reaction were found to be vibrationally excited up to the limits of available electronic energies carried by the excited Na atoms, and the vibrational population exhibits a maximum at υ=2. The efficiency of E→V energy transfer was determined to be 35%. Our present results were found to be consistent with the impulsive (half-collision) and curve-crossing models.     

Sensitization of the CN(B2Σ+ → X2Σ+) emission by Hg(63P0) metastables

The vibrational analysis of the CN(B²Σ⁺ → X²Σ⁺) emission sensitized by Hg(6³P₀) metastables has shown that the energy transfer process, Hg(6³P₀) + CN(X²Σ⁺) → Hg(6¹S₀) + CN(B²Σ⁺), populates the CN(B²Σ⁺) state in a non-Franck-Condon fashion. The relative vibrational populations for the ν = 0 to 4 states are 1.00, 0.56 ± 0.06, 0.26 ± 0.03, 0.11 ± 0.03 and 0.04 ± 0.01, respectively. Long-range attractive interaction between the Hg(6³P₀) atom and the CN(X²Σ⁺) radical is evidenced by the observed high rotational excitation of the CN(B²Σ⁺) radical following the energy transfer process.     

Vacuum UV emission by electronically-excited N2: The radicative lifetime of the N2(a′1Σ−u state

A measurement of the electronic transition moment variation for the N₂(a'¹Σ^?_uX¹Σ^+g) band system has allowed a reassessment of the radiative lifetime of N₂(a′). Relaxation to N₂(a′,υ=0) is established as the major channel for quenching of N₂(a¹Π_g, υ = 0) molecules by Ar.     

Dynamics of reactions of O(3P) atoms with CS,CS2 and OCS

The reactions of CS(X ¹Σ⁺), CS₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) and OCS(X ¹Σ⁺) with O(³P) were studied at 298 K by means of a CO laser resonance absorption technique. The CO(ν) population distribution produced from the reaction O(³P) + CS(X ¹Σ⁺) studied in a quartz flash photolysis tube (λ>/ 200 nm) is similar to distributions observed previously for ν> 7. For ν < 7 an energetically colder vibrational population was observed which is attributed to the reaction of O(³P) atoms with undissociated CS₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g). Subsequent experiments carried out in a Pyrex flash photolysis tube (λ>/ 300 nm) in which the O(³P) + CS₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) reaction is the only one which can occur confirmed that the colder population observed is attributable to this process. The branching ratio for the reaction channel O(³P) + CS₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) → CO(X ¹Σ⁺) + S₂(³Σ^?_g) has been measured. We find that 1.4 ± 0.2% of the O + CS₂ reaction proceeds through this channel, and that the rate constant for this reaction channel is, k = 3.5 (±0.5) × 10¹⁰ cm³/mole s. Isotope labeled experiments using ¹⁸O atoms show that the O(³P) + OCS(X ¹Σ⁺) reaction takes place by a direct stripping mechanism, wherein CO(ν) is produced exclusively from the parent OCS molecule. The CO(ν) formed in this reaction carries about 9% of the total available energy.     

High-Resolution Experimental Study on Photodissocaition of N2O

We study the photodissociation dynamics of nitrous oxide using the time-sliced ion velocity imaging technique at three photolysis wavelengths of 134.20, 135.30, and 136.43 nm. The O(¹S_J=0)+N₂(X¹∑_g⁺) product channels were investigated by measuring images of the O(¹S_J=0) products. Vibrational states of N₂(X¹∑_g⁺) products were fully resolved in the images. Product total kinetic energy releases (TKER) and the branching ratios of vibrational states of N₂ products were determined. It is found that the most populated vibrational states of N₂ products are v=2 and v=3. The angular anisotropy parameters (β values) were also derived. The β values are very close to 2 at low vibrational states of the correlated N₂(X¹∑_g⁺) products at all three photolysis wavelengths, and gradually decrease to about 1.4 at v=7. This indicates the dissociation is mainly through a parallel transition state to form products at lower vibrational states, and the highly vibrational exited products are from a more bent configuration. This is consistent with the observed shift of the most intense rotational structure in the TKER as the vibrational quantum number increases.     

Studies on the reaction N + N3 → N2(B 3Πg) + N2(X 1Σ+g)

Strongly enhanced N₂ first positive emission N₂(B ³Π_g → A ³Σ⁺_u) has been observed on addition of N atoms into a flowing mixture of Cl and HN₃. The dependence of the emission intensity on N atom concentration gave a rate constant for the reaction N + N₃ → N₂(B ³Π_g) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) of _i(1.6 ± 1.1) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. That for the reaction Cl + HN₃ → HCl + N₃ is (8.9 ± 1.0) × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 from the decay of the emission. Comparison of the emission intensity in ClHN₃ with that in ClHN₃N gave the rate constant of the reaction N₃ + N₃ → N₂(B ³Π_g) + 2N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) as 1.4 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 on the assumption that N + N₃ yields only N₂(B ³Π_g) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g).     

Laser-induced fluorescence in N2 and N+2 by multiple-photon excitation at 266 nm

The fluorescence transitions corresponding to the second positive system of N₂ (C³Π_u → B³Π_g) for Δv = 0, 1 and the first negative system of N⁺₂(B²Σ⁺_u → X²Σ⁺_g) for Δv = 0, 1, 2 have been observed following laser-induced mul excitation of N₂.     

The energy balance and branching ratios associated with the chemiluminescent reaction Si(3P) + N2O(1Σ) → SiO*(a3Σ+, b3Π, A1Π) + N2(υ″ ⩾ 5) — possible formation of vibrationally excited N2

Silicon atoms react under single collision conditions with N₂O to yield chemiluminescent emission corresponding to the SiO a³Σ⁺?X¹Σ⁺ and b³Π?X¹Σ⁺ intercombination systems and the A¹Π?X¹Σ⁺ band system. A most striking feature of the SiN₂O reaction is the energy balance associated with the formation of SiO product molecules in the A¹Π and b³Π states. A significant energy discrepancy ( = 10000 cm^? = 1.24 eV) is found between the available energy to populate the highest energetically accessible excited-state quantum levels and the highest quantum level from which emission is observed. It is suggested that this discrepancy may result from the formation of vibrationally excited N₂ in a concerted fast SiN₂O reactive encounter. Emission from the SiO a³Σ⁺ (A¹Π) and b³Π(A¹Π, E¹Σ₀⁺) triplet-state manifold results primarily from intensity borrowing involving the indicated singlet states. Perturbation calculations indicate the magnitude of the mixing between the b³Π, A¹Π and E¹Σ₀⁺ states ranges between 0.5 and 2%. On the basis of these calculations, the branching ratio (excited triplet)/(excited singlet) is found to be well in excess of 500. An approximate vibrational population distribution is deduced for those molecules formed in the b³Π state. The present studies are correlated with those of previous workers in order to provide an explanation for diverse relaxation effects as well as observed changes in the ratio of a³Σ⁺ to b³Π emission as a function of pressure and experimental environment. Some of these effects are attributable to a strong coupling between the a³Σ⁺ and b³Π state. Based on the current results, there appears to be little correlation between either (1) the branching ratio for excited state formation or (2) the total absolute cross section for excited-state formation and (3) the measured quantum yield for the SiN₂O reaction. Implications for chemical laser development are considered.     

C2 and CN formation by optical pumping of CO/Ar and Co/N2/Ar mixtures at room temperature

A continuous wave carbon monoxide laser is used to excite the vibrational mode of CO in CO/Ar and CO/N₂/Ar mixtures flowing through a gas absorption cell. High steady-state excitation of the CO vibrational mode (0.3 eV/molecule) is achieved, while a translational—rotational temperature near 300 K is maintained by the steady flow of cold gas into the cell. These non-equilibrium conditions result in extreme vibration—vibration pumping, population high-lying vibrational quantum levels (to V = 42) of CO. N₂ can also be pumped by vibrational energy transfer from CO. Under these conditions, C₂ and CN molecules are formed, and are observed to fluoresce on various electronic band transitions, notably C₂ Swan (A ³Π_g—X ³Π_u) and CN violet (B ²Σ⁺—X²Σ⁺).     

Spectroscopy of molecular ions: Laser-induced fragmentation spectra of N2O+, A 2Σ+-X2Π

The N₂O⁺ molecular ion is studied by laser-induced fragmentation in a mass-selected beam of ions employing a frequency-doubled pulsed dye laser operating at a resolution up to λ/Δλ=400000. Spectra in the wavelength range between 317.5 and 328.5 nm are presented which give new information about highly excited vibrational levels of the A ²Σ⁺ state. The rotational structure of the A ²Σ⁺(2,0,0)-X²Π(0,0,0) transition was observed with high resolution and analyzed by means of calculations. Molecular constants are determined with good accuracy.     

Relaxation mechanism of the 1Δg state of liquid O2

Collisional deactivation of the first excited electronic ¹Δ_g(υ = 0) state of O₂ involves intersystem crossing to higher vibrational levels (υ < 5) of the electronic ground state ³Σ^?_g. It is followed by rapid vibrational-vibrational energy exchange which populates the first excited ³Σ^?_g(υ = 1) vibrational level. The suggested relaxation mechanism is supported by experimental results on the time dependence of the populations of the ¹Δ_g(υ = 0) and ³Σ^?_g(υ = 1) states in liquid natural O₂ and ¹⁸O₂.     

The effect of internal excitation on the collision induced dissociation of I+2(2Πg,υ) ions

Cross sections for collision induced dissociation of 0.65 to 3.2 keV I⁺₂(²Π_g, υ) ions in I⁺₂(²Π_g, υ) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g, υ = 0) interactions have been determined. Reaction cross sections for I⁺₂(²Π_{$\text{3}\text{2}$,g}, υ) ions in low vibrational levels vary smoothly from 6 to 10 A² with increasing kinetic energy. Dissociation cross sections for I⁺₂(²Π_{$\text{1}\text{2}$,g}, υ) ions are larger than those involving ground state ions. Processes involving highly excited metastable states of I⁺₂ are not observed in this investigation.     

Recombination energy of N22+

The recombination energy of N₂²⁺ has been computed using N₂²⁺, N₂²⁺ and N₂ potential curves from the literature. Vibrational overlaps and energies liberated in the various N₂²⁺³∑^?_g,¹∑_g⁺, ³Π_u, ¹Π_u → N₂⁺(X²∑⁺_g, A ²∑⁺_g, A ²Π_u, B²∑_u⁺,C²∑_u⁺) vibronic transitions have been computed and used as input for determination of the N₂⁺ recombination energy.     

Potential energy surfaces for the photodissociation H2O→O(1Dg + H2(X1Σ+g)

The minimum energy pathways for symmetrical dissociation of water into O(¹D_g + H₂(X¹Σ⁺_g) are calculated by the MRD Cl technique for various excited states of H₂O and possible mechanism for the photodissociation are discussed.     

Excitation and decay of the C2Σ+u state of N+2 following collisions of He+ ions with N2 isotopes

A quantitative analysis is made of the N⁺₂ “2nd negative” emission (“2N”: C²Σ⁺_u → X²Σ⁺_g) produced by the impact of 500 eV to 25 keV He⁺ beams on ¹⁴N₂, ¹⁴N¹⁵N and ¹⁵N₂. Above about 5 keV, the relative 2N emission rates from the various vibrational levels of the C state are the same as those observed for ? 2 keV Ne⁺, or > / 90 eV electron-impact. These limiting distributions are compared to those predicted for a Franck-Condon excitation of the C state, modified by configuration interaction. The weakening in 2N emission at the vibrational levels ν′ > / 3 is ascribed to spontaneous C-state predissociation. The data fully confirm recent reports that this predissociation extends over a wide range of ν′ and that it is subject to a strong isotope effect. The ratios of the rates of C-state predissociation to 2N emission are obtained for the levels ν′ = 3 to 8 of each nitrogen isotope. By means of these data it is shown that near-resonant charge transfer dominates the distribution of vibrational excitation probabilities only at energies below about 10 eV. A comparison is made of absolute cross-sections for C-state emission with those for N⁺ and N⁺₂ production in He⁺/¹⁴N₂ collisions at energies between 5.5 eV and 25 keV.     

Collisional ionization of alkali atoms by vibrationally excited N2

Chemiionization of alkali atoms by active nitrogen is studied in a crossed beam apparatus. Vibrationally excited N₂ in the electronic ground state is responsible for the ionization rather than electronically excited N₂ in the A ³∑_u⁺ state. The ionization cross section is of the order 10² A². The experimental data is consistent with the distribution of the vibrational levels of N₂ (X¹ ∑_g⁺) predicted by Bray or Caledonia and Center.     

Very high vibrational excitation,up to ν′ = 32, in NO+ X 1Σ+ ions by UV irradiation,evidenced by photoelectron spectroscopy

The photoelectron spectrum of NO excited by the Ne(I) 73.6 nm component exhibits a very long vibrational progression from ν′ = 0 up to ν′ = 32 for the NO⁺X¹Σ⁺ ground ionic state, with an intensity distribution showing 5 maxima. This dramatic vibrational excitation is interpreted as being due to autoionization, presumably from a ²Σ^? state in a ν = 4 vibrational level.