Picosecond UV photolysis and laser-induced fluorescence probing of gas-phase nitromethane

Ground-state NO₂ radicals are formed in <5 ps with a quantum yield of ≈ 70% in 264 nm photolysis of low pressure nitromethane, as revealed by laser-induced fluorescence probing. Raman shifted photolyzing pulses indicate the NO₂ yield varies little with wavelength, although a small yield of excited state NO^*₂ produced at 264 nm increases significantly at 238 nm.