Photochemical sensitization and magnetic field effect on ultrafine particle formation from a gaseous mixture of glyoxal and carbon disulphide

Under light irradiation at 435.8 nm with a medium-pressure mercury lamp, a gaseous mixture of glyoxal (GLY) and carbon disulphide (CS₂) produced sedimentary aerosol particles at the initial stage of light irradiation. The nucleation process of the aerosol particles was investigated by measuring He-Ne laser light intensity scattered by the aerosol particles as formed under light irradiation at 435.8 nm. From the dependence of the scattered light intensity on the partial pressure of GLY, it was found that electronically excited GLY in the n-π* state initiated chemical reactions with CS₂ leading to nucleation of the aerosol particles. An external magnetic field effect on the nucleation process was measured for a gaseous mixture of GLY and CS₂. With the application of a magnetic field of 5.1 kG, the nucleation reaction was accelerated and the convection of the gaseous mixture was changed. The magnetic field effect on the gaseous mixture is briefly discussed in comparison with the results obtained from a gaseous mixture of GLY and acrolein recently reported by us.