Intercomparison of simultaneously obtained infrared (4.8 microm) and visible (515-715 nm) ozone spectra using ACE-FTS and MAESTRO

Laboratory ozone absorption spectra were measured simultaneously in the visible (515-715 nm) and infrared (2070-2140 cm(-1)) spectral regions using SCISAT-1's MAESTRO (Measurement of Aerosol Extinction in the Stratosphere and Troposphere Retrieved by Occultation) and ACE-FTS (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier Transform Spectrometer) spectrometers. An intercomparison of these measurements was used to assess the relative accuracy of HITRAN absolute line strengths, for which there was a 4% change between the 2000 and 2004 versions. Results reported here show that Chappuis band cross section strengths are more consistent with the HITRAN 2004 4.8 microm band line strengths than with the 2000 compilation.     

Laboratory intercomparison of the ozone absorption coefficients in the mid-infrared (10 microm) and ultraviolet (300-350 nm) spectral regions

For the measurement of atmospheric ozone concentrations, the mid-infrared and ultraviolet regions are both used by ground-, air-, or satellite-borne instruments. In this study we report the first laboratory intercomparison of the ozone absorption coefficients using simultaneous measurements in these spectral regions. The intercomparison shows good agreement (around 98.5%) between the HITRAN 2000 recommendation for the mid-infrared and the most reference measurements in the ultraviolet regions, whereas systematic differences of about 5.5% are observed when using the recommendation of HITRAN2003 for the mid-infrared. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. Future measurements are clearly needed to resolve this issue.     

Genotoxicity of visible light (400-800 nm) and photoprotection assessment of ectoin, L-ergothioneine and mannitol and four sunscreens

This study was designed to determine the genotoxic effects of visible (400-800nm) and ultraviolet A (UVA)/visible (315-800nm) lights on human keratinocytes and CHO cells. The alkaline comet assay was used to quantify DNA-damage. In addition, photo-dependent cytogenetic lesions were assessed in CHO cells by the micronucleus test. Three protective compounds [ectoin, l-ergothioneine (ERT) and mannitol] were tested with the comet assay for their effectiveness to reduce DNA single-strand breaks (SSB). Finally, the genomic photoprotections of two broad-band sunscreens and their tinted analogues were assessed by the comet assay. The WST-1 cytotoxicity assay revealed a decrease of the keratinocyte viability of 30% and 13% for the highest UVA/visible and visible irradiations (15 and 13.8J/cm(2), respectively). Visible as well as UVA/visible lights induced DNA SSB and micronuclei, in a dose-dependent manner. The level of DNA breakage induced by visible light was 50% of the one generated by UVA/visible irradiation. However, UVA radiations were 10 times more effective than visible radiations to produce SSB. The DNA lesions induced by visible and UVA/visible lights were reduced after a 1-h preincubation period with the three tested compounds. The maximal protective effects were 92.7%, 97.9% and 52.0% for ectoin (0.1mM), ERT (0.5mM) and mannitol (1.5mM), respectively, against visible light and 68.9%, 59.8% and 62.7% for ectoin (0.1mM), ERT (0.5mM) and mannitol (1.5mM), respectively, against UVA/visible light. Thus, visible light was genotoxic on human keratinocytes and CHO cells through oxidative stress mechanisms similar to the ones induced by UVA radiations. The four tested sunscreens efficiently prevented DNA lesions that were induced by both visible and UVA/visible irradiations. The tinted sunscreens were slightly more effective that their colorless analogues. There is a need to complement sunscreen formulations with additional molecules to obtain a complete internal and external photoprotection against both UVA and visible lights.     

Comparison of the erythemogenic effectiveness of ultraviolet-B (290-320 nm) and ultraviolet-A (320-400 nm) radiation by skin reflectance

–Based on optical properties of the skin, its constituent layers and the blood, and a previously experimentally verified quantitative model for the optical transfer properties in skin, noninvasive determinations of the amount of cutaneous blood in the superficial plexus are made from skin reflectance. This method is used to determine UVA and UVB fluences that cause cutaneous blood in the superficial plexus to increase to 1.5, 2 and 2.5 times the pre-radiation volume at various times after irradiation. Our results show that on an equal fluence basis, UVB is two to three thousand times as effective as UVA in inducing erythema, whether erythema is evaluated 8, 24 or 72 h after irradiation. This agrees with the result obtained in terms of minimal erythema dose by visual inspection.     

Kinetic measurements on the system: 2NO2 = N2O4 at (224 ± 2) K using time-resolved infrared laser absorption

Direct kinetic measurements have been made on the reaction: 2NO₂ = N₂O₄. Equilibrium mixtures of NO₂ and N₂O₄ at (224 ± 2) K were perturbed by flash photolysis of a fraction of the N₂O₄. The rate of relaxation back to equilibrium was monitored by observing the transmittance of the 14P(11) line from a cw CO laser selected to coincide with the v₉ band of N₂O₄. Measurements were made in the presence of 350–750 torr of He, N₂, or CF₄. Within this limited pressure range, the kinetics were consistent with third-order behavior with the following rate constants (cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1): k⁰ = (2.4 ± 0.5) × 10^?34 [He]; (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10^?33 [N₂]; (1.8 ± 0.3) × 10^?33 [CF₄].     

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.     

Absorption cross-sections of NO2 in the UV and visible region (200 – 700 nm) at 298 K

The absorption cross-sections of NO₂ have been measured in the wavelength range 200 – 700 nm at 298 K with a spectral resolution of 0.04 nm. The data were acquired digitally, allowing post-processing such as integration in different wavelength intervals. The cross-sections are averaged over 1 nm intervals and over the atmospheric wavelength intervals used in solar photolysis calculations.     

The near-infrared (1.30-1.70 microm) absorption spectrum of methane down to 77 K

The high resolution absorption spectrum of methane has been recorded at liquid nitrogen temperature by direct absorption spectroscopy between 1.30 and 1.70 microm (5850-7700 cm(-1)) using a newly developed cryogenic cell and a series of DFB diode lasers. The investigated spectral range includes part of the tetradecad and the full icosad regions for which only very partial theoretical analysis are available. The analysis of the low temperature spectrum will benefit from the reduction of the rotational congestion and from the narrowing by a factor of 2 of the Doppler linewidth allowing the resolution of a number of multiplets. Moreover, the energy value and rotational assignment of the angular momentum J of the lower state of a given transition can be obtained from the temperature variation of its line intensity. This procedure is illustrated in selected spectral regions by a continuous monitoring of the spectrum during the cell cool-down to 77 K, the temperature value being calculated at each instant from the measured Doppler linewidth. A short movie showing the considerable change of a spectrum during cool-down is attached as Supplementary Material. The method applied to a 30 cm(-1) section of the tetradecad spectrum around 6110 cm(-1) has allowed an unambiguous determination of the J values of part of the observed transitions.     

Non-coherent visible and infrared radiation increase survival to UV (254 nm) in Escherichia coli K12

Interactions between visible or infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV, 254 nm) radiation have been studied in E. coli. Pre-illumination with non-coherent monochromatic 446, 466, 570 and 685 nm radiation, as well as with polychromatic red and IR radiation at room temperature, leads to increased cell survival after a subsequent irradiation with UV light. In the thermic range of the spectrum (red and IR), IR but not red light pre-treatment is able to increase cell survival to a subsequent lethal heat (51 degrees C) challenge, suggesting that increased UV survival may be due to IR-induced heat-shock response. On the other hand, visible-light-induced resistance may be due to a different mechanism, possibly involved with unknown bacterial light receptors.     

Isomers of GeNO and Ge(NO)2: production and infrared absorption of GeNO and ONGeNO in solid Ar

Crystalline germanium was ablated with light at 532 nm from a frequency-doubled neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet laser, and the resultant plume reacted with NO before deposition onto a substrate at 13 K. Lines in group A at 1543.8 and 3059.7 cm(-1) that become enhanced at the initial stage of irradiation at 308 or 193 nm and also after annealing are attributed to nu1 and 2nu1 of GeNO. Lines in group B at 1645.5 and 1482.8 cm(-1) that become diminished after further irradiation of the matrix at 308 or 193 nm but become enhanced after annealing are attributed to symmetric NO stretch (nu1) and antisymmetric NO stretch (nu7) of ONGeNO. The assignments were derived based on wave numbers and isotopic ratios observed in the experiments with 15N- and 18O-isotopic substitutions and predicted with quantum-chemical calculations. Quantum-chemical calculations with density-functional theories (B3LYP and BLYP/aug-cc-pVTZ) predict four stable isomers of GeNO, six isomers of Ge2NO, and four isomers of Ge(NO)2, with linear GeNO, cyc-GeNGeO, and cyc-GeONNO having the least energies, respectively. The formation mechanisms of GeNO and ONGeNO are discussed. In addition, a weak line at 1417.0 cm(-1) and two additional lines associated with minor matrix sites at 1423.0 and 1420.3 cm(-1) are assigned to GeNO-.     

Simultaneous determination of SO(2), NO and NO(2) in air by differential pulse polarography

The method of Garber and Wilson for SO(2) determination has been tested on real samples of air. The results demonstrate the possibility of simultaneous determination of SO(2), NO and NO(2) in the sample. Detection limits as low as 7 mul/m(3) for SO(2) and about 50 mul/m(3) for nitric oxides can be reached.     

On the photochemistry of IONO2: absorption cross section (240-370 nm) and photolysis product yields at 248 nm

The absolute absorption cross section of IONO(2) was measured by the pulsed photolysis at 193 nm of a NO(2)/CF(3)I mixture, followed by time-resolved Fourier transform spectroscopy in the near-UV. The resulting cross section at a temperature of 296 K over the wavelength range from 240 to 370 nm is given by log(10)(sigma(IONO(2))/cm(2) molecule(-1)) = 170.4 - 3.773 lambda + 2.965 x 10(-2)lambda(2)- 1.139 x 10(-4)lambda(3) + 2.144 x 10(-7)lambda(4)- 1.587 x 10(-10)lambda(5), where lambda is in nm; the cross section, with 2sigma uncertainty, ranges from (6.5 +/- 1.9) x 10(-18) cm(2) at 240 nm to (5 +/- 3) x 10(-19) cm(2) at 350 nm, and is significantly lower than a previous measurement [J. C. M?ssinger, D. M. Rowley and R. A. Cox, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 2002, 2, 227]. The photolysis quantum yields for IO and NO(3) production at 248 nm were measured using laser induced fluorescence of IO at 445 nm, and cavity ring-down spectroscopy of NO(3) at 662 nm, yielding phi(IO) 相似文献   

Simultaneous measurements of stress and infrared dichroism on polymers

Summary A method for simultaneous measurements of stress and infrared dichroism as time-dependent behavior of polymer films was devised by using a double beam infrared spectrometer. The film sample held between clamps of a stretching device was placed just in front of the entrance slit of the spectrometer where the sample and reference beams came alternately. Two polarizers were used, one in the sample beam and the other in the reference beam. Thus the sample and reference beams were polarized to have the electric vectors parallel and perpendicular to the stretching direction of the sample, respectively. With this arrangement the spectrometer responded only to the difference in the transmittance of the two beams. Setting the spectrometer at one of the wavenumbers of the absorption band maxima, we could record continuously the change in its dichroism during mechanical treatments which gave rise to the molecular orientation in the sample. The stress was recorded automatically by means of a couple of strain gages pasted on the cantilever beam of the stretching device.By theoretical considerations, a simple relationship was found to exist between the quantity recorded on the spectrometer by this method and the orientation function of transition moment of a vibrational absorption band with respect to the stretching direction.The method was applied to the stress relaxation experiments of vulcanized natural rubber carried out at different elongations less than 600% and at the room temperature. Changes of infrared dichroism were measured for five absorption bands at 1664, 1380, 1361, 1129, and 844 cm^–1, of which the last one is a crystalline band. From the results of this study, it was concluded that the stress relaxation observed was ascribed mainly to the amorphous orientation rather than to the crystalline orientation, which was completed almost immediately after elongation.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Methode für gleichzeitige Messungen von Spannungs-und Infrarot-Dichroismus von Polymerenfolien in AbhÄngigkeit von der Zeit wurde unter Verwendung eines Zweistrahlen-Infrarotspektrometers entwickelt. Die Filmproben, zwischen Klemmen in einer Verstreckungsanordnung gehalten, sind am Ort des Eintrittsspaltes des Spektrometers justiert, an dem der die Probe durchlaufende und der Referenzstrahl alternierend eintreten. Zwei Polarisationen, eine im Probestrahl, die andere im Referenzstrahl, wurden verwendet. So sind der Probe-und Referenzstrahl mit dem elektrischen Vektor parallel bzw. senkrecht zur Streckrichtung der Probe polarisiert. Mit dieser Anordnung am Spektrometer wird nur die Differenz der DurchlÄssigkeit der Probe für beide Strahlen gemessen. Wenn man das Spektrometer auf die Wellenzahl eines Absorptionsmaximums der Probe einstellt, lÄ\t sich also kontinuierlich unmittelbar die Änderung des Dichroismus wÄhrend der mechanischen Verformung verfolgen, die aus molekularer Orientierung in der Probe resultiert. Die Spannung wurde automatisch mit Hilfe von Verlagerungsaufnehmern aufgezeichnet.Theoretische Betrachtungen lassen eine einfache Beziehung zwischen den Spektrometerkurven und der Orientierungsfunktion für die verschiedenen Absorptionsbanden in Bezug auf die Streckrichtung finden.Die Methode wurde auf Spannungsrelaxation in vulkanisiertem Naturkautschuk für verschiedene Strekkungen kleiner als 600% bei Raumtemperatur angewendet. Die Messungen der Änderung des InfrarotDichroismus fanden für die 5 Absorptionsbanden bei 1664, 1380, 1361, 1129 und 844 cm^–1 statt, wobei die letztere eine kristalline Bande ist. Aus den Ergebnissen wird geschlossen, da\ die beobachtete Spannungsrelaxation in der Hauptsache Orientierung im Amorphen und nicht einer Kristallit-Orientierung zuzuordnen ist. Letztere ist offensichtlich schon unmittelbar nach der Streckung fast vollstÄndig ausgebildet.

     

Simultaneous measurements of stress and infrared dichroism on polymers

Summary In order to obtain informations on the molecular nature and mechanism of rheological processes on polymers, simultaneous measurements of stress and infrared dichroism were made of polychloroprene (Neoprene Type AC) films during the course of continuous elongation at the constant rate 25%/min and of stress relaxation at 400% elongation. The time dependence of the infrared dichroism was obtained by measuring the intensity change at fixed wavenumbers of absorption band maxima on the differential polarized infrared spectra. Both the degree of crystallinity of sample films and the orientation function of transition moments were calculated from the results of the infrared dichroic measurements under the assumption of uniaxial orientation, which was confirmed to be the case by X-ray diffraction and birefringence measurements.In the continuous elongation experiments, it was found that the orientation functions for crystalline-sensitive bands showed maxima at 25% elongation and then decreased rapidly, changing their signs from positive to negative. There also appeared the yield point in the stress-strain curve and the beginning of sharp decrease of crystallinity at the same degree of elongation 25%. These facts were interpreted in terms of the orientation of the crystalline phase followed by the degradation of crystallites and drawing out of the molecular chain from the crystallites. In the stress relaxation experiments, moderate changes in the orientation functions were found for various characteristic absorption bands. Little difference was observed between changes in the orientation functions for the amorphous and crystalline-sensitive bands. This makes a contrast with the previous results for vulcanized natural rubber, where the orientation of the crystalline phase was completed almost immediately after elongation, while in the amorphous phase the molecular chains were oriented gradually during the course of stress relaxation.

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Zusammenfassung Um Informationen über die molekulare Natur und den Mechanismus rheologischer Prozesse von Polymeren zu erhalten, wurden gleichzeitige Messungen der Spannung und des Infrarot-Dichroismus an Polychloropren-Filmen (Typ AC-Neopren) während der kontinuierlichen Verstreckung bei konstanter Verstreckungsgeschwindigkeit von 25%/min und während der Spannungsrelaxation bei 400% Verlängerung durchgeführt. Die Zeitabhängigkeit des Infrarot-Dichroismus wurde aus der Intensitätsänderung im festen Wellenzahlbandmaximum eines Kristallisationsbandes mit einem differenz-polarisierten Infrarot-Spektrographen festgestellt. Beide, der Kristallanteil der Probe und die Orientierungsfunktion für die Übergangsmomente lassen sich aus den Resultaten unter Annahme einachsiger Orientierung auswerten. Letztere, die einachsige Orientierung, wurde mit Röntgenbeugung und Doppelbrechung sichergestellt.In den Experimenten mit kontinuierlicher Verlängerung zeigten die Orientierungsfunktionen der Kristallempfindlichen Banden bei 25% Verlängerung ein Maximum. Danach sanken sie rasch unter Wechsel ihres Vorzeichens von positiv nach negativ ab. Der Fließpunkt in der Spannungs-Dehnungs-Kurve und der Beginn des scharfen Abfalls der Kristallinität zeigen sich vom gleichen Verlängerungsgrad 25% ab.Diese Tatsachen werden aufgrund der Orientierung der kristallinen Phase erklärt, gefolgt von einem Abbau der Kristallite und einem Herausziehen der Molekülketten aus den Kristalliten. In den Spannungsrelaxationsversuchen wurden gewisse Änderungen der Orientierungsfunktionen für die verschiedenen charakteristischen Absorptionsbanden gefunden. Es ergaben sich geringe Differenzen in der Änderung der Orientierungsfunktionen für die amorphen und kristallempfindlichen Banden. Das steht im Gegensatz zu früheren Resultaten an vulkanisiertem Naturkautschuk. Bei letzteren war die Orientierung der Kristallphase beinahe unmittelbar nach der Dehnung vollständig, während in der amorphen Phase die molekularen Ketten nach und nach im Laufe der Spannungsrelaxation orientiert wurden.

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With 8 figures in 9 details and 1 table     

强碱阴离子交换树脂及碱性洗脱剂的离子排阻/阴离子交换色谱法同时测定NH4+ ，NO2-和NO3-（英文）

Ion-exclusion/anion-exchange chromatography(IEC/AEC) on a combination of a strongly basic anion-exchange resin in the OH——form with basic eluent has been developed.The separation mechanism is based on the ion-exclusion/penetration effect for cations and the anion-exchange effect for anions to anion-exchange resin phase.This system is useful for simultaneous separation and determination of ammonium ion(NH+4),nitrite ion(NO-2),and nitrate ion(NO-3) in water samples.The resolution of analyte ions can be manipulated by changing the concentration of base in eluent on a polystyrene-divinylbenzene based strongly basic anion-exchange resin column.In this study,several separation columns,which consisted of different particle sizes,different functional groups and different anion-exchange capacities,were compared.As the results,the separation column with the smaller anion-exchange capacity(TSKgel Super IC-Anion) showed well-resolved separation of cations and anions.In the optimization of the basic eluent,lithium hydroxide(LiOH) was used as the eluent and the optimal concentration was concluded to be 2 mmol/L,considering the resolution of analyte ions and the whole retention times.In the optimal conditions,the relative standard deviations of the peak areas and the retention times of NH+4,NO-2,and NO-3 ranged 1.28%-3.57% and 0.54%-1.55%,respectively.The limits of detection at signal-to-noise of 3 were 4.10 μmol/L for NH+4,1.87 μmol/L for NO-2 and 2.83 μmol/L for NO-3.     

Rotationally resolved absorption cross sections of formaldehyde in the 28100-28500 cm(-1) (351-356 nm) spectral region: implications for in situ LIF measurements

The rotationally resolved ultraviolet absorption cross sections for the 2(0)(0)4(1)(0) vibrational band of the A(1)A(2)-X(1)A(1) electronic transition of formaldehyde (HCHO) at an apodized resolution of 0.027 cm(-1) (approximately 0.0003 nm at 352 nm) over the spectral range 28100-28500 cm(-1) (351-356 nm) at 298 and 220 K, using Fourier transform spectroscopy, are first reported here. Accurate rotationally resolved cross sections are important for the development of in situ HCHO laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) instruments and for atmospheric monitoring. Pressure dependence of the cross sections between 75 and 400 Torr at 298 K was explored, and an average pressure broadening coefficient in dry air of 1.8 x 10(-4) cm(-1) Torr(-1) for several isolated lines is reported. Gaseous HCHO was quantitatively introduced into a flow cell by evaporating micron-sized droplets of HCHO solution, using a novel microinjector technique. The condensed-phase concentrations of HCHO were determined by iodometric titrations to an accuracy of <1%. Accuracy of the measured absorption cross sections is estimated to be better than +/-5%. Integrated and differential cross sections over the entire band at low resolution (approximately 1 cm(-1)) obtained with our calibration technique are in excellent agreement with previous measurements. A maximum differential cross section of 5.7 x 10(-19) cm(2) molecule(-1) was observed at high resolution-almost an order of magnitude greater than any previously reported data at low resolution.     

The Effects of UVA-I (340-400 nm), UVA-II (320-340 nm) and UVA-I+II on the Photoisomerization of Urocanic Acid in vivo

Abstract— Ultraviolet B radiation (280-320 nm) can systemically suppress contact hypersensitivity (CHS), delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and tumor rejection responses in mice. Several models have been postulated for the initiation of this UVB-induced immune suppression and, although the complete mechanism is unclear, our early studies suggested that initiation is via the activation of a photoreceptor in the skin, identified as urocanic acid (UCA). Recent preliminary data from our laboratory and others indicated that UVA (320-400 nm)-emitting broadband sunlamps can also isomerize UCA but may not lead to immune suppression, in contrast to UVB-emitting sunlamps, which cause both effects. Although the reason for this inconsistency is unknown, the emission spectra of UVA lamps contain differing amounts of UVB, UVA-I (340-400 nm) and UVA-II (320-340 nm) from those of UVB sources. In this study we determined a detailed dose-response for the isomerization of UCA in mouse skin using the UVA-I, UVA-II and UVA-I+II wavelength ranges. The dose-response curves obtained were put on an equal energy basis by quantum correction and the possibility of wavelength interaction for this effect investigated. A simple additive wavelength interaction between UVA-I, UVA-II, and UVA-I+II was observed for trans-UCA photoisomerization. This result indicates that the failure of UVA-I, UVA-II or UVA-I+II radiation to induce immune suppression of the CHS response in an animal model is not due to complex wavelength interactions and/or the presence of an in vivo endogenous photosensitizer of UCA isomerization. Other factors, such as downstream blocking by UVA of the cis -UCA generated signal, may be involved.     

Theoretical insights into the visible near‐infrared absorption spectra of Bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonate) copper(II) in pyridine

The density functional theory calculations were performed to investigate the specific solvent effects on the optical absorption spectrum of copper(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate complex in pyridine. The effects of single and double coordination of pyridine molecules at axial position of bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonate) copper(II) indicate that both positions and intensities of 3d–3d electronic transitions are strongly dependent on the coordination environment around the copper(II) complex. The results indicate that the nature of the electron‐acceptor atoms in the equatorial ligands plays an important role in the number of solvent molecules in the first solvation shell of copper(II) acac systems. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

The photodissociation dynamics of NO2 at 308 nm and of NO2 and N2O4 at 226 nm

Velocity-map ion imaging has been applied to the photodissociation of NO(2) via the first absorption band at 308 nm using (2 + 1) resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization detection of the atomic O((3)P(J)) products. The resulting ion images have been analyzed to provide information about the speed distribution of the O((3)P(J)) products, the translational anisotropy, and the electronic angular momentum alignment. The atomic speed distributions were used to provide information about the internal quantum-state distribution in the NO coproducts. The data were found to be consistent with an inverted NO vibrational quantum-state distribution, and thereby point to a dynamical, as opposed to a statistical dissociation mechanism subsequent to photodissociation at 308 nm. Surprisingly, at this wavelength the O-atom electronic angular momentum alignment was found to be small. Probe-only ion images obtained under a variety of molecular-beam backing-pressure conditions, and corresponding to O atoms generated in the photodissociation of either the monomer, NO(2), or the dimer, N(2)O(4), at 226 nm, are also reported. For the monomer, where 226 nm corresponds to excitation into the second absorption band, the kinetic-energy release distributions are also found to indicate a strong population inversion in the NO cofragment, and are shown to be remarkably similar to those previously observed in the wavelength range of 193-248 nm. Mechanistic implications of this result are discussed. At 226 nm it has also been possible to observe directly O atoms from the photodissociation of the dimer. The O-atom velocity distribution has been analyzed to provide information about its production mechanism.