Dissociation of NH3 to electronic ground-state fragments by high-intensity CO2 laser radiation

The dissociation of NH₃ into electronic ground-state fragments NH₂(²B₁) + H by high-intensity CO₂ laser radiation has been observed under essentially collision free conditions and as a function of NH₃ pressure, using laser fluorescence excitation for the NH₂ detection. Luminescence from excited NH₂ (²A₁) produced directly by the CO₂ laser has also been observed. The relative yield of NH₂ (²A₁) is estimated to be smaller than that of NH₂ (²B₁) by several orders of magnitude.