Vacuum ultraviolet photoionization of C3

Photoionization efficiency (PIE) curves for C(3) molecules produced by laser ablation are measured from 11.0 to 13.5 eV with tunable vacuum ultraviolet undulator radiation. A step in the PIE curve versus photon energy, obtained with N(2) as the carrier gas, supports the conclusion of very effective cooling of C(3) to its linear (1)Sigma(g)(+) ground state. The second step observed in the PIE curve versus photon energy could be the first experimental evidence of the C(3)(+)((2)Sigma(g)(+)) excited state. The experimental results, complemented by ab initio calculations, suggest a state-to-state vertical ionization energy of 11.70 +/- 0.05 eV between the C(3)(X(1)Sigma(g)(+)) and the C(3)(+)(X(2)Sigma(u)(+)) states. An ionization energy of 11.61 +/- 0.07 eV between the neutral and ionic ground states of C(3) is deduced using the data together with our calculations. Accurate ab initio calculations are performed for both linear and bent geometries on the lowest doublet electronic states of C(3)(+) using Configuration Interaction (CI) approaches and large basis sets. These calculations confirm that C(3)(+) is bent in its electronic ground state, which is separated by a small potential barrier from the (2)Sigma(u)(+) minimum. The gradual increase at the onset of the PIE curve suggests a geometry change between the ground neutral and cationic states. The energies between several doublet states of the ion are theoretically determined to be 0.81, 1.49, and 1.98 eV between the (2)Sigma(u)(+) and the (2)Sigma(g)(+),( 2)Pi(u), (2)Pi(g) excited states of C(3)(+), respectively.     

Two-color visible/vacuum ultraviolet photoelectron imaging dynamics of Br2

An experimental two-color photoionization dynamics study of laser-excited Br2 molecules is presented, combining pulsed visible laser excitation and tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation with photoelectron imaging. The X 1Sigmag + -B 3Pi0+u transition in Br2 is excited at 527 nm corresponding predominantly to excitation of the v' = 28 vibrational level in the B 3Pi0+u state. Tunable VUV undulator radiation in the energy range of 8.40-10.15 eV is subsequently used to ionize the excited molecules to the X 2Pi32,12 state of the ion, and the ionic ground state is probed by photoelectron imaging. Similar experiments are performed using single-photon synchrotron ionization in the photon energy range of 10.75-12.50 eV without any laser excitation. Photoelectron kinetic energy distributions are extracted from the photoelectron images. In the case of two-color photoionization using resonant excitation of the intermediate B 3Pi0+u state, a broad distribution of photoelectron kinetic energies is observed, and in some cases even a bimodal distribution, which depends on the VUV photon energy. In contrast, for single-photon ionization, a single nearly Gaussian-shaped distribution is observed, which shifts to higher energy with photon energy. Simulated spectra based on Franck-Condon factors for the transitions Br2(X 1Sigmag+, v" = 0)-Br2 +(X 2Pi12,32, v+) and Br2(B 3Pi0+u, v' = 28)-Br2 +(X 2Pi12,32, v+) are generated. Comparison of these calculated spectra with the measured images suggests that the differences in the kinetic energy distributions for the two ionization processes reflect the different extensions of the vibrational wave functions in the v" = 0 electronic ground state (X 1Sigmag+) versus the electronically and vibrationally excited state (B 3Pi0+u, v' = 28).     

Photoionization and photodissociation dynamics of the B 1sigmau + and C 1Piu states of H2 and D2

The photoionization and photodissociation dynamics of H(2) and D(2) in selected rovibrational levels of the B (1)Sigma(u) (+) and C (1)Pi(u) states have been investigated by velocity map ion imaging. The selected rotational levels of the B (1)Sigma(u) (+) and C (1)Pi(u) states are prepared by three-photon excitation from the ground state. The absorption of fourth photon results in photoionization to produce H(2)(+) X (2)Sigma(g)(+) or photodissociation to produce a ground-state H(1s) atom and an excited H atom with n >or= 2. The H(2) (+) ion can be photodissociated by absorption of a fifth photon. The resulting H(+) or D(+) ion images provide information on the vibrational state dependence of the photodissociation angular distribution of the molecular ion. The excited H(n >or= 2) atoms produced by the neutral dissociation process can also be ionized by the absorption of a fifth photon. The resulting ion images provide insight into the excited state branching ratios and angular distributions of the neutral photodissociation process. While the experimental ion images contain information on both the ionic and neutral processes, these can be separated based on constraints imposed on the fragment translational energies. The angular distribution of the rings in the ion images indicates that the neutral dissociation of molecular hydrogen and its isotopes is quite complex, and involves coupling to both doubly excited electronic states and the dissociation continua of singly excited Rydberg states.     

Photoelectron imaging following 2 + 1 multiphoton excitation of HBr

The photodissociation and photoionization dynamics of HBr via low-n Rydberg and ion-pair states was studied by using 2 + 1 REMPI spectroscopy and velocity map imaging of photoelectrons. Two-photon excitation at about 9.4-10 eV was used to prepare rotationally selected excited states. Following absorption of the third photon the unperturbed F (1)Delta(2) and i (3)Delta(2) states ionize directly into the ground vibrational state of the molecular ion according to the Franck-Condon principle and upon preservation of the ion core. In case of the V (1)Sigma(+)(0(+)) ion-pair state and the perturbed E (1)Sigma(+)(0(+)), g (3)Sigma(-)(0(+)), and H (1)Sigma(+)(0(+)) Rydberg states the absorption of the third photon additionally results in a long vibrational progression of HBr(+) in the X (2)Pi state as well as formation of electronically excited atomic photofragments. The vibrational excitation of the molecular ion is explained by autoionization of repulsive superexcited states into the ground state of the molecular ion. In contrast to HCl, the perturbed Rydberg states of HBr show strong participation of the direct ionization process, with ionic core preservation.     

Spectroscopy and metastability of CO2 2+ molecular ions

The spectroscopy and metastability of the carbon dioxide doubly charged ion, the CO(2) (2+) dication, have been studied with photoionization experiments: time-of-flight photoelectron photoelectron coincidence (TOF-PEPECO), threshold photoelectrons coincidence (TPEsCO), and threshold photoelectrons and ion coincidence (TPEsCO ion coincidence) spectroscopies. Vibrational structure is observed in TOF-PEPECO and TPEsCO spectra of the ground and first two excited states. The vibrational structure is dominated by the symmetric stretch except in the TPEsCO spectrum of the ground state where an antisymmetric stretch progression is observed. All three vibrational frequencies are deduced for the ground state and symmetric stretch and bending frequencies are deduced for the first two excited states. Some vibrational structure of higher electronic states is also observed. The threshold for double ionization of carbon dioxide is reported as 37.340+/-0.010 eV. The fragmentation of energy selected CO(2) (2+) ions has been investigated with TPEsCO ion coincidence spectroscopy. A band of metastable states from approximately 38.7 to approximately 41 eV above the ground state of neutral CO(2) has been observed in the experimental time window of approximately 0.1-2.3 mus with a tendency towards shorter lifetimes at higher energies. It is proposed that the metastability is due to slow spin forbidden conversion from bound excited singlet states to unbound continuum states of the triplet ground state. Another result of this investigation is the observation of CO(+)+O(+) formation in indirect dissociative double photoionization below the threshold for formation of CO(2) (2+). The threshold for CO(+)+O(+) formation is found to be 35.56+/-0.10 eV or lower, which is more than 2 eV lower than previous measurements.     

Gallium oxide and dioxide: investigation of the ground and low-lying electronic states via anion photoelectron spectroscopy

The GaO and GaO2 molecules were investigated using negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy. All the photoelectron spectra showed vibrationally resolved progressions. With the aid of electronic structure calculations and Franck-Condon spectral simulations, different molecular parameters and energetics of GaO-/GaO and GaO2-/GaO2 were determined, including the electron affinity of GaO, the vibrational frequency of GaO-, and the term energy, spin-orbit splitting, and vibrational frequency for the first excited A 2PiOmega state of GaO. The GaO2- photoelectron spectra comprised three bands assigned as transitions from the linear X 1Sigma(g)+ ground state of GaO2- to three linear neutral states: the A 2Pi(g), B 2Pi(u), and C 2Sigma(u) + states. The symmetric stretch frequencies of the anion and three neutral states as well as the spin-orbit splitting of the neutral 2Pi states were determined. Electronic structure calculations found the neutral lowest energy linear structure to be only 63 meV higher than the neutral bent geometry.     

Dissociative photoionization of N(2)O in the region of the N(2)O(+)(B (2)Pi) state studied by ion-electron velocity vector correlation

Dissociative direct photoionization of the N2O(X 1Sigma+) linear molecule via the N2O+(B 2Pi) ionic state induced by linearly polarized synchrotron radiation P in the 18-22 eV photon energy range is investigated using the (VA+,Ve,P) vector correlation method, where VA+ is the nascent velocity vector of the NO+, N2+, or O+ ionic fragment and Ve that of the photoelectron. The DPI processes are identified by the ion-electron kinetic energy correlation, and the IchiA+(thetae,phie) molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions (MFPADs) are reported for the dominant reaction leading to NO+ (X 1Sigma+,v) + N(2D)+ e. The measured MFPADs are found in satisfactory agreement with the reported multichannel Schwinger configuration interaction calculations, when bending of the N2O+(B 2Pi) molecular ion prior to dissociation is taken into account. A significant evolution of the electron scattering anisotropies is observed, in particular in the azimuthal dependence of the MFPADs, characteristic of a photoionization transition between a neutral state of Sigma symmetry and an ionic state of Pi symmetry. This interpretation is supported by a simple model describing the photoionization transition by the coherent superposition of two ssigma and ddelta partial waves and the associated Coulomb phases.     

Ab initio configuration-interaction study of the ground and low-lying electronic states of NiI

For the first time, we have studied the potential-energy curves, spectroscopic terms, vibrational levels, and the spectroscopic constants of the ground and low-lying excited states of NiI by employing the complete active space self-consistent-field method with relativistic effective core potentials followed by multireference configuration-interaction calculations. We have identified six low-lying electronic states of NiI with doublet spin multiplicities, including three states of Delta symmetry and three states of Pi symmetry of the molecule within 15 000 cm(-1). The lowest (2)Delta state is identified as the ground state of NiI, and the lowest (2)Pi state is found at 2174.56 cm(-1) above it. These results fully support the previous conclusion of the observed spectra although our computational energy separation of the two states is obviously larger than that of the experimental values. The present calculations show that the low-lying excited states [13.9] (2)Pi and [14.6] (2)Delta are 3 (2)Pi and 3 (2)Delta electronic states of NiI, respectively. Our computed spectroscopic terms, vibrational levels, and spectroscopic constants for them are in good agreement with the experimental data available at present. In the present work we have not only suggested assignments for the observed states but also computed more electronic states that are yet to be observed experimentally.     

Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of BO- and BO2-: a joint experimental and theoretical study

We report a photoelectron spectroscopy and computational study of two simple boron oxide species: BO- and BO2-. Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra are obtained at several photon energies (355, 266, 193, and 157 nm) for the 10B isotopomers, 10BO- and 10BO2-. In the spectra of 10BO-, we observe transitions to the 2Sigma+ ground state and the 2Pi excited state of 10BO at an excitation energy of 2.96 eV. The electron affinity of 10BO is measured to be 2.510+/-0.015 eV. The vibrational frequencies of the ground states of 10BO- and 10BO and the 2Pi excited state are measured to be 1725+/-40, 1935+/-30, and 1320+/-40 cm-1, respectively. For 10BO2-, we observe transitions to the 2Pig ground state and two excited states of 10BO2, 2Piu, and 2Sigmau+, at excitation energies of 2.26 and 3.04 eV, respectively. The electron affinity of 10BO2 is measured to be 4.46+/-0.03 eV and the symmetrical stretching vibrational frequency of the 2Piu excited state of 10BO2 is measured to be 980+/-30 cm-1. Both density functional and ab initio calculations are performed to elucidate the electronic structure and chemical bonding of the two boron oxide molecules. Comparisons with the isoelectronic AlO- and AlO2- species and the closely related molecules CO, N2, CN-, and CO2 are also discussed.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the electronic spectrum of BeAl

The electronic structure of BeAl was investigated by laser induced fluorescence and resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy. BeAl was formed by pulsed laser ablation of a Be/Al alloy in the presence of helium carrier gas, followed by a free jet expansion into vacuum. In agreement with recent ab initio studies, the molecule was found to have a (2)Pi(1/2) ground state. Transitions to two low lying electronic states, (2)(2)Pi(1/2)(v') <-- X (2)Pi(1/2) (v' = 0) and (1)(2)Delta(v') <-- X (2)Pi(1/2) (v' = 0,1), were observed and rotationally analyzed. An additional band system, identified as (4)(2)Sigma(+)(v') <-- X (2)Pi(1/2), was found in the 28 000-30 100 cm(-1) energy range. This transition exhibited an unusual pattern of vibrational levels resulting from an avoided crossing with the (5)(2)Sigma(+) electronic state. New multi-reference configuration interaction calculations were carried out to facilitate the interpretation of the UV bands.An ionization energy of 48 124(80) cm(-1) was determined for BeAl from photoionization efficiency (PIE) measurements. Fine structure in the PIE curve was attributed to resonances with Rydberg series correlating with vibrationally excited states of the BeAl(+) ion. Analysis of this structure yielded a vibrational frequency of 240(20) cm(-1) for the cation.     

Photoabsorption and S 2p photoionization of the SF6 molecule: resonances in the excitation energy range of 200-280 eV

Photoabsorption and S 2p photoionization of the SF(6) molecule have been studied experimentally and theoretically in the excitation energy range up to 100 eV above the S 2p ionization potentials. In addition to the well-known 2t(2g) and 4e(g) shape resonances, the spin-orbit-resolved S 2p photoionization cross sections display two weak resonances between 200 and 210 eV, a wide resonance around 217 eV, a Fano-type resonance around 240 eV, and a second wide resonance around 260 eV. Calculations based on time-dependent density functional theory allow us to assign the 217-eV and 260-eV features to the shape resonances in S 2p photoionization. The Fano resonance is caused by the interference between the direct S 2p photoionization channel and the resonant channel that results from the participator decay of the S 2s(-1)6t(1u) excited state. The weak resonances below 210-eV photon energy, not predicted by theory, are tentatively suggested to originate from the coupling between S 2p shake-up photoionization and S 2p single-hole photoionization. The experimental and calculated angular anisotropy parameters for S 2p photoionization are in good agreement.     

Low-lying electronic states of the Ti2 dimer: electronic absorption spectroscopy in rare gas matrices in concert with quantum chemical calculations

Absorption spectra were measured for Ti2 in Ne and Ar matrices. The spectra give evidence for several electronic transitions in the region between 4000 and 10 000 cm(-1) and provide important information about some excited electronic states of Ti2 in proximity to the ground state. The vibrational fine structure measured for these transitions allowed to calculate the force constants and the anharmonicity of the potential energy curves of the excited states, and to estimate changes in the internuclear Ti-Ti distances relative to the electronic ground state. The quantum chemical studies confirm the previously suggested (3)Delta(g) state as the ground state of Ti2. The equilibrium bond distance is calculated to be 195.4 pm. The calculated harmonic frequency of 432 cm(-1) is in good agreement with the experimental value of 407.0 cm(-1). With the aid of the calculations it was possible to assign the experimentally observed transitions in the region between 4000 and 10 000 cm(-1) to the 1 (3)Pi(u)<--(3)Delta(g), 1 (3)Phi(u)<--(3)Delta(g), 2 (3)Pi(u)<--(3)Delta(g), 2 (3)Phi(u)<--(3)Delta(g), and (3)Delta(u)<--(3)Delta(g) excitations (in the order of increasing energy). The calculated relative energies and harmonic frequencies are in pleasing agreement with the experimentally obtained values, with deviations of less than 5% and 2%, respectively. The bond distances estimated on the basis of the experimental spectra tally satisfactorily with the predictions of our calculations.     

X-ray absorption and resonant Auger spectroscopy of O2 in the vicinity of the O 1s-->sigma* resonance: experiment and theory

We report on an experimental and theoretical investigation of x-ray absorption and resonant Auger electron spectra of gas phase O(2) recorded in the vicinity of the O 1s-->sigma(*) excitation region. Our investigation shows that core excitation takes place in a region with multiple crossings of potential energy curves of the excited states. We find a complete breakdown of the diabatic picture for this part of the x-ray absorption spectrum, which allows us to assign an hitherto unexplained fine structure in this spectral region. The experimental Auger data reveal an extended vibrational progression, for the outermost singly ionized X (2)Pi(g) final state, which exhibits strong changes in spectral shape within a short range of photon energy detuning (0 eV>Omega>-0.7 eV). To explain the experimental resonant Auger electron spectra, we use a mixed adiabatic/diabatic picture selecting crossing points according to the strength of the electronic coupling. Reasonable agreement is found between experiment and theory even though the nonadiabatic couplings are neglected. The resonant Auger electron scattering, which is essentially due to decay from dissociative core-excited states, is accompanied by strong lifetime-vibrational and intermediate electronic state interferences as well as an interference with the direct photoionization channel. The overall agreement between the experimental Auger spectra and the calculated spectra supports the mixed diabatic/adiabatic picture.     

Theoretical investigation of excited states of C(3)

In this work, we present ab initio calculations for the potential energy surfaces of C(3) in different electronic configurations, including the singlet ground state [X (1)Sigma(g) (+),((1)A(1))], the triplet ground state [a (3)Pi(u),((3)B(1), (3)A(1))], and some higher excited states. The geometries studied include triangular shapes with two identical bond lengths, but different bond angles between them. For the singlet and triplet ground states in the linear geometry, the total energies resulting from the mixed density functional--Hartree-Fock and quadratic configuration interaction methods reproduce the experimental values, i.e., the triplet occurs 2.1 eV above the singlet. In the geometry of an equilateral triangle, we find a low-lying triplet state with an energy of only 0.8 eV above the energy of the singlet in the linear configuration, so that the triangular geometry yields the lowest excited state of C(3). For the higher excited states up to about 8 eV above the ground state, we apply time-dependent density functional theory. Even though the systematic error produced by this approach is of the order of 0.4 eV, the results give different prospective to insight into the potential energy landscape for higher excitation energies.     

Dynamics of OH radical generation in laser-induced photodissociation of tetrahydropyran at 193 nm

Tetrahydropyran (THP) undergoes photodissociation on excitation with ArF laser at 193 nm, generating OH radical as one of the transient photoproducts. Laser-induced fluorescence technique is used to detect the nascent OH radical and measure its energy state distribution. The OH radical is formed mostly in the ground vibrational level (v"=0), with low rotational excitation. The rotational distribution of OH (v"=0,J) is characterized by a temperature of 433+/-31 K, corresponding to a rotational energy of 0.86+/-0.06 kcalmol. Two Lambda-doublet levels, 2Pi+(A') and 2Pi-(A"), and the two spin-orbit states, the 2Pi(3/2) and 2Pi(1/2), of OH are populated statistically for all rotational levels. The relative translational energy associated with the photoproducts in the OH channel is calculated to be 21.9+/-3.2 kcal mol(-1), from the Doppler-broadened linewidth, giving an ft value of approximately 43%, and most of the remaining 57% of the available energy is distributed in the internal modes of the other photofragment, C5H9. The observed distribution of the available energy is explained well, using a hybrid model of energy partitioning, with an exit barrier of 40 kcal mol(-1). The potential-energy surface of the reaction channel was mapped by ab initio molecular-orbital calculations. Based on experimental and theoretical results, a mechanism for OH formation is proposed. Electronically excited THP relaxes to the ground electronic state, and from there, a sequence of reactions takes place, generating OH. The proposed mechanism first involves C-O bond scission, followed by a 1,3 H atom migration to O atom, and finally, the C-OH bond cleavage giving OH.     

Single and double photoionizations of methanal (formaldehyde)

Single and double photoionization spectra of formaldehyde have been measured at 40.81 and 48.37 eV photon energy and the spectrum of the doubly charged cation has been interpreted using high-level electronic structure calculations. The adiabatic double-ionization energy is determined as 31.7+/-0.25 eV and the vertical ionization energy is 33 eV. The five lowest excited electronic states are identified and located. The potential-energy surfaces of the accessible states explain the lack of stable H2CO2+ dications and the lack of vibrational structure. The experimental double-ionization spectrum can be decomposed into two distinct contributions, one from direct photoionization and the second from indirect double photoionization by an inner-valence shell Auger effect.     

Theoretical study on the electronic states of NaLi

Configuration interaction calculations have been carried out on electronic states of the NaLi molecule and the cation NaLi(+). Potential energy curves are presented for the lowest nine (1)Sigma(+), seven (1)Pi, four (1)Delta, eight (3)Sigma(+), seven (3)Pi, and four (3)Delta states of NaLi as well as for the lowest ten (2)Sigma(+), six (2)Pi, and two (2)Delta states of NaLi(+). The results of the present many-electron configuration interaction calculations on the cation are in support of previous core-polarization effective potential calculations. The present calculations on the NaLi molecule are complementary to previous theoretical work on this system, including recently observed electronic states that had not been calculated previously as well as an investigation of nonadiabatic effects leading to spectral perturbations. Furthermore, ab initio potential energy curves of the neutral and the ground state of the cation are employed to determine quantum defect that may be employed to generate potential energy curves for nd and (n+1)p (for n>3) Rydberg states of NaLi. The present results on the 3 (1)Pi and 4 (1)Pi states are in good agreement with recent experimental work, whereas on the basis of theoretical data, the recently observed state 5 (1)Pi is better described as 6 (1)Pi.     

Two-dimensional H2O-Cl2 and H2O-Br2 potential surfaces: an ab initio study of ground and valence excited electronic states

All electron ab initio calculations for the interaction of H2O with Cl2 and Br2 are reported for the ground state and the lowest triplet and singlet Pi excited states as a function of both the X-X and O-X bond lengths (X = Cl or Br). For the ground state and lowest triplet state, the calculations are performed with the coupled cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triple excitation level of correlation using an augmented triple-zeta basis set. For the 1Pi state the multireference average quadratic coupled cluster technique was employed. For several points on the potential, the calculations were repeated with the augmented quadruple-zeta basis set. The ground-state well depths were found to be 917 and 1,183 cm-1 for Cl2 and Br2, respectively, with the triple-zeta basis set, and they increased to 982 and 1,273 cm-1 for the quadruple-zeta basis set. At the geometry of the ground-state minimum, the lowest energy state corresponding to the unperturbed 1Pi states of the halogens increases in energy by 637 and 733 cm-1, respectively, relative to the ground-state dissociation limit of the H2O-X2 complex. Adding the attractive ground-state interaction energy to that of the repulsive excited state predicts a blue-shift, relative to that of the free halogen molecules, of approximately 1,600 cm-1 for H2O-Cl2 and approximately 2,000 cm-1 for H2O-Br2. These vertical blue-shifts for the dimers are greater than the shift of the band maximum upon solvation of either halogen in liquid water.     

Imaging studies of the photodissociation of H2S+ cations. II

Ion imaging methods have been used to explore the photodissociation dynamics of state-selected H(2)S(+) and D(2)S(+) cations. Predissociation following one photon excitation to the A (2)A(1) state at wavelengths (385< or =lambda(phot)< or =420 nm) in the vicinity of the first dissociation threshold results in formation of ground state S(+) fragment ions; the partner H(2)(D(2)) fragments are deduced to be rotationally "cold." Two photon dissociation processes are also observed, resonance enhanced at the energy of one absorbed photon by the predissociating A state levels. Two photon excitation at these wavelengths is deduced to populate an excited state of (2)A(1) symmetry, which dissociates to electronically excited S(+)((2)D) products, together with vibrationally excited H(2)(D(2)) cofragments. Ground state SH(+)(SD(+)) fragments, attributable to a one photon dissociation process, are observed once lambda(phot)< or =325 nm. Two photon induced production of SH(+)(SD(+)) fragments is also observed, at all wavelengths studied (i.e., at all lambda(phot)< or =420 nm). These SH(+)(SD(+)) fragments are deduced to be formed in their singlet (i.e., a (1)Delta and b (1)Sigma(+)) excited states, with high levels of rotational excitation. The observed product branching and energy disposals are discussed within the context of the (limited) available knowledge relating to the excited electronic states of the H(2)S(+) cation.     

The photodissociation of NO(2) by visible and ultraviolet light

We present velocity map images of the NO, O((3)P(J)) and O((1)S(0)) photofragments from NO(2) excited in the range 7.6 to 9.0 eV. The molecule was initially pumped with a visible photon between 2.82-2.95 eV (440-420 nm), below the first dissociation threshold. A second ultraviolet laser with photon energies between 4.77 and 6.05 eV (260-205 nm) was used to pump high-lying excited states of neutral NO(2) and/or probe neutral photoproducts. Analysis of the kinetic energy release spectra revealed that the NO photofragments were predominantly formed in their ground electronic state with little kinetic energy. The O((3)P(J)) and O((1)S(0)) kinetic energy distributions were also dominated by kinetically 'cold' fragments. We discuss the possible excitation schemes and conclude that the unstable photoexcited states probed in the experiment were Rydberg states coupled to dissociative valence states. We compare our results with recent time-resolved studies using similar excitation and probe photon energies.