Formation of ultracold Rb2 molecules in the v' = 0 level of the a(3)Σ+(u) state via blue-detuned photoassociation to the 1(3)Π(g) state

We report on the observation of blue-detuned photoassociation in Rb(2), in which vibrational levels are energetically above the corresponding excited atomic asymptote. (85)Rb atoms in a MOT were photoassociated at short internuclear distance to levels of the 1(3)Π(g) state at a rate of approximately 5 × 10(4) molecules s(-1). We have observed most of the predicted vibrational levels for all four spin-orbit components; 0(+)(g), 0(-)(g), 1(g), and 2(g), including levels of the 0(+)(g) outer well. These molecules decay to the metastable a(3)Σ(+)(u) state, some preferentially to the v' = 0 level, as we have observed for photoassociation to the v' = 8 level of the 1(g) component.     

NO+ formation pathways in dissociation of N2O+ ions at the C2Σ+ state revealed from threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence velocity imaging

Using the novel threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) velocity imaging technique, the dissociative photoionization of N(2)O molecule via the C(2)Σ(+) ionic state has been investigated. Four fragment ions, NO(+), N(2)(+), O(+), and N(+), are observed, respectively, and the NO(+) and N(+) ions are always dominant in the whole excitation energy range of the C(2)Σ(+) ionic state. Subsequently, the TPEPICO three-dimensional time-sliced velocity images of NO(+) dissociated from the vibrational state-selected N(2)O(+)(C(2)Σ(+)) ions have been recorded. Thus the kinetic and internal energy distributions of the NO(+) fragments have been obtained directly as the bimodal distributions, suggesting that the NO(+) fragments are formed via both NO(+)(X(1)Σ(+)) + N((2)P) and NO(+)(X(1)Σ(+)) + N((2)D) dissociation channels. Almost the same vibrational population reversions are identified for both dissociation pathways. Interestingly, the obtained branching ratios of the two channels exhibit some dependence on the excited vibrational mode for N(2)O(+)(C(2)Σ(+)), in which the excited asymmetrical stretching potentially promotes dissociation possibility along the NO(+)(X(1)Σ(+)) + N((2)D) pathway. In addition, the measured anisotropic parameters of NO(+) are close to 0.5, indicating that the C(2)Σ(+) state of N(2)O(+) is fully predissociative, indeed, with a tendency of parallel dissociation, and therefore, the corresponding predissociation mechanisms for the N(2)O(+)(C(2)Σ(+)) ions are depicted.     

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.     

Ultrafast decay of superexcited c 4Σu- nlσg v=0,1 states of O2 probed with femtosecond photoelectron spectroscopy

Neutral superexcited states in molecular oxygen converging to the O(2)(+) c (4)Σ(u)(-) ion state are excited and probed with femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy to investigate predissociation and autoionization relaxation channels as the superexcited states decay. The c (4)Σ(u)(-) 4sσ(g) v=0, c (4)Σ(u)(-) 4sσ(g) v=1, and c (4)Σ(u)(-) 3dσ(g) v=1 superexcited states are prepared with pulsed high-harmonic radiation centered at 23.10 eV. A time-delayed 805 nm laser pulse is used to probe the excited molecular states and neutral atomic fragments by ionization; the ejected photoelectrons from these states are spectrally resolved with a velocity map imaging spectrometer. Three excited neutral O* atom products are identified in the photoelectron spectrum as 4d(1)?(3)D(J)°, 4p(1) (5)P(J)° and 3d(1) (3)D(J)° fragments. Additionally, several features in the photoelectron spectrum are assigned to photoionization of the transiently populated superexcited states. Using principles of the ion core dissociation model, the atomic fragments measured are correlated with the molecular superexcited states from which they originate. The 4d(1) (3)D(J)° fragment is observed to be formed on a timescale of 65 ± 5 fs and is likely a photoproduct of the 4sσ(g) v = 1 state. The 4p(1) (5)P(J)° fragment is formed on a timescale of 427 ± 75 fs and correlated with the neutral predissociation of the 4sσ(g) v = 0 state. The timescales represent the sum of predissociation and autoionization decay rates for the respective superexcited state. The production of the 3d(1) (3)D(J)° fragment is not unambiguously resolved in time due to an overlapping decay of a v = 1 superexcited state photoelectron signal. The observed 65 fs timescale is in good agreement with previous experiments and theory on the predissociation lifetimes of the v = 1 ion state, suggesting that predissociation may dominate the decay dynamics from the v = 1 superexcited states. An unidentified molecular state is inferred by the detection of a long-lived depletion signal (reduction in autoionization) associated with the B (2)Σ(g)(-) ion state that persists up to time delays of 105 ps.     

Femtosecond dynamics of Cu(H(2)O)(2)

The ultrafast relaxation dynamics of Cu(H(2)O)(2) is investigated using femtosecond photodetachment-photoionization spectroscopy. In addition, stationary points on the Cu(H(2)O)(2) anion, neutral, and cation potential energy surfaces are characterized by ab initio electronic structure calculations. Electron photodetachment from Cu(-)(H(2)O)(2) initiates the dynamics on the ground-state potential energy surface of neutral Cu(H(2)O)(2). The resulting Cu(H(2)O)(2) complexes experience large-amplitude H(2)O reorientation and dissociation. The time evolution of the Cu(H(2)O)(2) fragmentation products is monitored by time-resolved resonant multiphoton ionization. The parent ion, Cu(+)(H(2)O)(2), is not detected above background levels. The rise to a maximum of the Cu(+) signal from Cu(-)(H(2)O)(2), and the decay of the Cu(+)(H(2)O) signal from Cu(-)(H(2)O)(2) have similar tau approximately 10 ps time dependences to the corresponding signals from Cu(-)(H(2)O), but display clear differences at very short and long times. The experimental observations can be understood in terms of the following picture. Prompt dissociation of H(2)O from nascent Cu(H(2)O)(2) gives rise to a vibrationally excited Cu(H(2)O) complex, which dissociates to Cu+H(2)O due to coupling of H(2)O internal rotation to the dissociation coordinate. This prompt dissociation removes all intra-H(2)O vibrational excitation from the intermediate Cu(H(2)O) fragment, which quenches the long time vibrational predissociation to Cu+H(2)O previously observed in analogous experiments on Cu(-)(H(2)O).     

Accurate potential energy curve for B2. Ab initio elucidation of the experimentally elusive ground state rotation-vibration spectrum

The electron-deficient diatomic boron molecule has long puzzled scientists. As yet, the complete set of bound vibrational energy levels is far from being known, experimentally as well as theoretically. In the present ab initio study, all rotational-vibrational levels of the X (3)Σ(g)(-) ground state are determined up to the dissociation limit with near-spectroscopic accuracy (<10 cm(-1)). Two complete sets of bound vibrational levels for the (11)B(2) and (11)B-(10)B isotopomers, containing 38 and 37 levels, respectively, are reported. The results are based on a highly accurate potential energy curve, which also includes relativistic effects. The calculated set of all vibrational levels of the (11)B(2) isotopomer is compared with the few results derived from experiment [Bredohl, H.; Dubois, I.; and Nzohabonayo, P. J. Mol. Spectrosc. 1982, 93, 281; Bredohl, H.; Dubois, I.; and Melen, F. J. Mol. Spectrosc. 1987, 121, 128]. Theory agrees with experiment within 4.5 cm(-1) on average for the four vibrational level spacings that are so far known empirically. In addition, the present theoretical analysis suggests, however, that the transitions from higher electronic states to the ground state vibrational levels v = 12-15 deserve to be reanalyzed. Whereas previous experimental investigators considered them to originate from the v' = 0 vibrational level of the upper state (2)(3)Σ(u)(-), the present results make it likely that these transitions originate from a different upper state, namely the v' = 16 or the v' = 17 vibrational level of the (1)(3)Σ(u)(-) state. The ground state dissociation energy D(0) is predicted to be 23164 cm(-1).     

Vibronic coupling in the superoxide anion: the vibrational dependence of the photoelectron angular distribution

We present a comprehensive photoelectron imaging study of the O(2)(X (3)Σ(g)(-),v(')=0-6)←O(2)(-)(X (2)Π(g),v(")=0) and O(2)(a?(1)Δ(g),v(')=0-4)←O(2)(-)(X (2)Π(g),v(")=0) photodetachment bands at wavelengths between 900 and 455 nm, examining the effect of vibronic coupling on the photoelectron angular distribution (PAD). This work extends the v(')=1-4 data for detachment into the ground electronic state, presented in a recent communication [R. Mabbs, F. Mbaiwa, J. Wei, M. Van Duzor, S. T. Gibson, S. J. Cavanagh, and B. R. Lewis, Phys. Rev. A 82, 011401(R) (2010)]. Measured vibronic intensities are compared to Franck-Condon predictions and used as supporting evidence of vibronic coupling. The results are analyzed within the context of the one-electron, zero core contribution (ZCC) model [R. M. Stehman and S. B. Woo, Phys. Rev. A 23, 2866 (1981)]. For both bands, the photoelectron anisotropy parameter variation with electron kinetic energy, β(E), displays the characteristics of photodetachment from a d-like orbital, consistent with the π(g)(?) 2p highest occupied molecular orbital of O(2)(-). However, differences exist between the β(E) trends for detachment into different vibrational levels of the X (3)Σ(g)(-) and a?(1)Δ(g) electronic states of O(2). The ZCC model invokes vibrational channel specific "detachment orbitals" and attributes this behavior to coupling of the electronic and nuclear motion in the parent anion. The spatial extent of the model detachment orbital is dependent on the final state of O(2): the higher the neutral vibrational excitation, the larger the electron binding energy. Although vibronic coupling is ignored in most theoretical treatments of PADs in the direct photodetachment of molecular anions, the present findings clearly show that it can be important. These results represent a benchmark data set for a relatively simple system, upon which to base rigorous tests of more sophisticated models.     

Vibrational energy transfer from N2 to CO on electron excitation of N2-CO solids at 4.2 K

Spectra emitted from 0.1% CO-N₂ solids excited with high energy electrons at 4 K show evidence for resonant transfer of vibrational energy from highly excited vibrational levels of N₂ to CO in the process N₂(X¹Σ_g⁺, ν) + CO(ν = 0) → N₂(X¹Σ_g⁺, ν - 1) + CO(ν = 1) + phonons. Energy transfer from levels with ν ? 9 has been observed.     

Radiative association of He+ with H2 at temperatures below 100 K

The paper presents a theoretical study of the low-energy dynamics of radiative association processes in the He+ + H2 collision system. Formation of the triatomic HeH2(+) ion in its bound rotation-vibration states on the potential-energy surfaces of the ground and of the first excited electronic states is investigated. Close-coupling calculations are performed to determine detailed state-to-state characteristics (bound <-- free transition rates, radiative and dissociative widths of resonances) as well as temperature-average characteristics (rate constants, photon emission spectra) of the two-state (X <-- A) reaction He+(2S) + H2(X1sigma(g)+) --> HeH2(+)(X2A') + h nu and of the single-state (A <-- A) reaction He+(2S) + H2(X1sigma(g)+) --> HeH2(+)(A2A') + h nu. The potential-energy surfaces of the X- and A-electronic states of HeH2(+) and the dipole moment surfaces determined ab initio in an earlier work [Kraemer, Spirko, and Bludsky, Chem. Phys. 276, 225 (2002)] are used in the calculations. The rate constants k(T) as functions of temperature are calculated for the temperature interval 1 < or = T < or = 100 K. The maximum k(T) values are predicted as 3.3 x 10(-15) s(-1) cm3 for the X <-- A reaction and 2.3 x 10(-20) s(-1) cm3 for the A <-- A reaction at temperatures around 2 K. Rotationally predissociating states of the He+-H2 complex, correlating with the upsilon = 0, j = 2 state of free H2, are found to play a crucial role in the dynamics of the association reactions at low temperatures; their contribution to the k(T) function of the X <-- A reaction at T < 30 K is estimated as larger than 80%. The calculated partial rate constants and emission spectra show that in the X <-- A reaction the HeH2(+)(X) ion is formed in its highly excited vibrational states. This is in contrast with the vibrational state population of the ion when formed via the (X <-- X) reaction He(1S) + H2(+)(X2sigma(g)+) --> HeH2(+)(X2A') + h nu.     

Formation of ultracold metastable RbCs molecules by short-range photoassociation

Ultracold metastable RbCs molecules are observed in a double species magneto-optical trap through photoassociation near the Rb(5S(1/2)) + Cs(6P(3/2)) dissociation limit followed by radiative stabilization. The molecules are formed in their lowest triplet electronic state and are detected by resonance enhanced two-photon ionization through the previously unobserved (3)(3)Π ← a?(3)Σ(+) band. The large rotational structure of the observed photoassociation lines is assigned to the lowest vibrational levels of the 0(+) or 0(-) excited states correlated to the Rb(5P(1/2)) + Cs(6S(1/2)) dissociation limit. This demonstrates the possibility of inducing direct photoassociation in heteronuclear alkali-metal molecules at a short internuclear distance, as pointed out earlier [J. Deiglmayr et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 2008, 101, 13304].     

Communication: branching ratio measurements in the predissociation of 12C16O by time-slice velocity-map ion imaging in the vacuum ultraviolet region

The first direct branching ratio measurement of the three lowest energy dissociation channels of CO that produce C((3)P) + O((3)P), C((1)D) + O((3)P), and C((3)P) + O((1)D) is reported. Rotational resolved carbon ion yield spectra for two Π bands (W(3sσ)(1)Π (v(') = 3) at 108,012.6 cm(-1) and (1)Π(v(') = 2) at 109,017 cm(-1)) and two Σ bands ((4sσ)(1)Σ(+)(v(') = 4) at 109,452 cm(-1) and (4pσ)(1)Σ(+)(v(') = 3) at 109,485 cm(-1)) of CO were obtained. Our measurements show that the branching ratio in this energy region is strongly dependent on the electronic and vibrational energy but it is independent or just weakly dependent on the parity and rotational energy levels. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the triplet channel producing O((1)D) has been experimentally observed and this is also the first time that a direct measurement of the branching ratio for the different channels in the predissociation of CO in this energy region has been made.     

Electronic spectroscopy and excited state dynamics of the Al-H2/D2 complex

The electronic spectra of the Al-H2 and Al-D2 complexes are investigated in a collaborative experimental and theoretical study. The complexes were prepared in a pulsed supersonic beam and detected with laser fluorescence excitation spectroscopy. Transitions to bound vibrational levels in electronic states correlating with the excited-state Al(3d, 4p, 4d) + H2/D2 asymptotes were observed by monitoring emission from lower excited Al atomic levels, formed in the non-radiative decay of the excited complex. Fluorescence depletion has also been used to verify that the observed Al-H2 bands all involve the same molecular carrier. The bands have been assigned to the more strongly bound Al-oH2 and Al-pD2 nuclear spin modifications. In contrast to our previous observations for Al(5s)-H2 [X. Yang and P. J. Dagdigian, J. Chem. Phys., 1998, 109, 8920], for which only one potential energy surface (PES) emanates from the dissociation asymptote, the Lorentzian widths of the different vibrational bands in the 3d, 4p, 4d<--3p transitions vary widely, in some cases allowing resolution of the rotational structure of the bands. With the help of the calculated Al(3p)-oH2/pD2 dissociation energies, binding energies of the observed excited vibronic levels are reported. The mechanism of predissociation is investigated theoretically through ab initio calculation of C2 nu cuts of the excited PESs. It is concluded that predissociation occurs through coupling with the repulsive Al(4s)-H2 PES. With these calculations, a qualitative interpretation of the observed bands could be made.     

Oxygen cluster anions revisited: solvent-mediated dissociation of the core O4(-) anion

The electronic structure and photochemistry of the O(2n)(-)(H(2)O)(m), n = 1-6, m = 0-1 cluster anions is investigated at 532 nm using photoelectron imaging and photofragment mass-spectroscopy. The results indicate that both pure oxygen clusters and their hydrated counterparts with n ≥ 2 form an O(4)(-) core. Fragmentation of these clusters yields predominantly O(2)(-) and O(2)(-)·H(2)O anionic products, with the addition of O(4)(-) fragments for larger parent clusters. The fragment autodetachment patterns observed for O(6)(-) and larger O(2n)(-) species, as well as some of their hydrated counterparts, indicate that the corresponding O(2)(-) fragments are formed in excited vibrational states (v ≥ 4). Yet, surprisingly, the unsolvated O(4)(-) anion itself does not show fragment autodetachment at 532 nm. It is hypothesized that the vibrationally excited O(2)(-) is formed in the intra-cluster photodissociation of the O(4)(-) core anion via a charge-hopping electronic relaxation mechanism mediated by asymmetric solvation of the nascent photofragments: O(4)(-) → O(2)(-)(X(2)Π(g)) + O(2)(a(1)Δ(g)) → O(2)(X(3)Σ(g)(-)) + O(2)(-)(X(2)Π(g)). This process depends on the presence of solvent molecules and leads to vibrationally excited O(2)(-)(X(2)Π(g)) products.     

Theoretical spectroscopy of the calcium dimer in the A 1Sigma(u)+, c3Pi(u), and a3Sigma(u)+ manifolds: an ab initio nonadiabatic treatment

Nonadiabatic theory of molecular spectra of diatomic molecules is presented. It is shown that in the fully nonadiabatic framework, the rovibrational wave functions describing the nuclear motions in diatomic molecules can be obtained from a system of coupled differential equations. The rovibrational wave functions corresponding to various electronic states are coupled through the relativistic spin-orbit coupling interaction and through different radial and angular coupling terms, while the transition intensities can be written in terms of the ground state rovibrational wave function and bound rovibrational wave functions of all excited electronic states that are electric dipole connected with the ground state. This theory was applied in the nearly exact nonadiabatic calculations of energy levels, line positions, and intensities of the calcium dimer in the A (1)Sigma(u) (+)(1 (1)S+1 (1)D), c (3)Pi(u)(1 (3)P+1 (1)S), and a (3)Sigma(u) (+)(1 (3)P+1 (1)S) manifolds of states. The excited state potentials were computed using a combination of the linear response theory within the coupled-cluster singles and doubles framework for the core-core and core-valence electronic correlations and of the full configuration interaction for the valence-valence correlation, and corrected for the one-electron relativistic terms resulting from the first-order many-electron Breit theory. The electric transition dipole moment governing the A (1)Sigma(u) (+)<--X (1)Sigma(g) (+) transitions was obtained as the first residue of the frequency-dependent polarization propagator computed with the coupled-cluster method restricted to single and double excitations, while the spin-orbit and nonadiabatic coupling matrix elements were computed with the multireference configuration interaction wave functions restricted to single and double excitations. Our theoretical results explain semiquantitatively all the features of the observed Ca(2) spectrum in the A (1)Sigma(u) (+)(1 (1)S+1 (1)D), c (3)Pi(u)(1 (3)P+1 (1)S), and a (3)Sigma(u) (+)(1 (3)P+1 (1)S) manifolds of states.     

Collision-induced nonadiabatic transitions in the second-tier ion-pair states of iodine molecule: experimental and theoretical study of the I2(f0g+) collisions with rare gas atoms

Nonadiabatic transitions induced by collisions with He, Ar, Kr, and Xe atoms in the I(2) molecule excited to the f0(g)(+) second-tier ion-pair state are investigated by means of the optical-optical double resonance spectroscopy. Fluorescence spectra reveal that the transition to the F0(u)(+) state is a dominant nonradiative decay channel for f state in He, Ar, and Kr, whereas the reactive quenching is more efficient for collisions with Xe atom. Total rate constants and vibrational product state distributions for the f-->F electronic energy transfer are determined and analyzed in terms of energy gaps and Franck-Condon factors for the combining vibronic levels at initial vibrational excitations v(f)=8, 10, 14, and 17. Quantum scattering calculations are performed for collisions with He and Ar atoms, implementing a combination of the diatomics-in-molecule and long-range perturbation theories to evaluate diabatic PESs and coupling matrix elements. Calculated rate constants and vibrational product state distributions agree well with the measured ones, especially in case of Ar. Qualitative comparison is made with the previous results for the second-tier f0(g)(+)-->F0(u)(+) transition in collisions with I(2)(X) molecule and the first-tier E0(g)(+)-->D0(u)(+) transition induced by collisions with the rare gas atoms.     

Photodissociation of CS2+( 2 Πg) via (1+1) Excitation

Photodissociation dynamics of CS2+molecular ions has been investigated by (1+two-photon resonance technique. CS2+were prepared by (3+1) resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization (REMPI) of CS2molecules at 483. 2nm. The photofragment S+excitati (PHOFEX) spectra were recorded by scanning another laser in the 424~482nm region, and we assigned essentially to CS2+(~A2Πu,3/2(v′=0~4)←~X2Πg,3/2(0,0,0)) and (~A2Πu,1/2(v′=0,4)←~X2Πg,1/2(0,0,0)) (herev′=v1′+(1/2)v2′) transitions. The S+production channel wpreliminarily attributed to, (i) one-photon excitation CS2+from the ground state~X2Πgto texcited state~A2Πu; (ii) vibronic coupling between the~A2Πustate and the high vibrational lev in the~X2Πgstate; (iii) second photon excitation from the coupling vibrational levels to the excied state~B2Σu+and dissociation to produce S++ CS via the repulsive4Σ-state through spin-orb interaction between the~B2Σu+and4Σ-states.     

The ν2 bending vibrational structure of the X̃2Σ+ state of MgNC

We have generated MgNC in supersonic free jet expansions and observed the laser induced fluorescence (LIF) of the A?(2)Π-X?(2)Σ(+) transition. We measured the LIF dispersed spectra from the single vibronic levels of the A?(2)Π electronic state of MgNC, following excitation of each ν(2) bending vibronic band observed, i.e., the κ series of the (0,v(2)('),0)-(0,0,0), v(2)(') = 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 vibronic bands. In the vibrational structure in the dispersed fluorescence spectra measured, the long progression of the ν(2) bending mode in the X?(2)Σ(+) state is identified, e.g., up to v(2)(')=14 in the (0,6,0)-(0,v(2)('),0) spectrum. This enables us to derive the potential curve of the ν(2) bending mode in the X?(2)Σ(+) state. We used two kinds of models to obtain the potential curve; (I) the customary formula expressed in the polynomial series of the (v(2)(')+(d(2)/2)) term and (II) the internal rotation model. The potential curve derived from model (I) indicates the convergence of the bending vibrational levels at about 800 cm(-1) from the vibrationless level of MgNC, which may correspond to the barrier height of the isomerization reaction, MgNC ? MgCN, in the X?(2)Σ(+) state. Model (II) gives a simple picture for the isomerization reaction pathway with a barrier height of about 630 cm(-1) from the vibrationless level of the more stable species, MgNC. This shows that the v(2)(')=8 bending vibrational level of MgNC is already contaminated by the v(2)(')=2 bending vibrational level of the isomer, MgCN, and implies that the isomerization reaction begins at the v(2) (')=8 level. The bending potential surface and the isomerization reaction pathway, MgNC ? MgCN, in the X?(2)Σ(+) state are discussed by comparing the potential derived in this study with the surface obtained by quantum chemical calculation.     

A femtosecond velocity map imaging study on B-band predissociation in CH3I. II. The 2(0)1 and 3(0)1 vibronic levels

Femtosecond time-resolved velocity map imaging experiments are reported on several vibronic levels of the second absorption band (B-band) of CH(3)I, including vibrational excitation in the ν(2) and ν(3) modes of the bound (3)R(1)(E) Rydberg state. Specific predissociation lifetimes have been determined for the 2(0)(1) and 3(0)(1) vibronic levels from measurements of time-resolved I*((2)P(1/2)) and CH(3) fragment images, parent decay, and photoelectron images obtained through both resonant and non-resonant multiphoton ionization. The results are compared with our previously reported predissociation lifetime measurements for the band origin 0(0) (0) [Gitzinger et al., J. Chem. Phys. 132, 234313 (2010)]. The result, previously reported in the literature, where vibrational excitation to the C-I stretching mode (ν(3)) of the CH(3)I (3)R(1)(E) Rydberg state yields a predissociation lifetime about four times slower than that corresponding to the vibrationless state, whereas predissociation is twice faster if the vibrational excitation is to the umbrella mode (ν(2)), is confirmed in the present experiments. In addition to the specific vibrational state lifetimes, which were found to be 0.85 ± 0.04 ps and 4.34 ± 0.13 ps for the 2(0)(1) and 3(0)(1) vibronic levels, respectively, the time evolution of the fragment anisotropy and the vibrational activity of the CH(3) fragment are presented. Additional striking results found in the present work are the evidence of ground state I((2)P(3/2)) fragment production when excitation is produced specifically to the 3(0)(1) vibronic level, which is attributed to predissociation via the A-band (1)Q(1) potential energy surface, and the indication of a fast adiabatic photodissociation process through the repulsive A-band (3)A(1)(4E) state, after direct absorption to this state, competing with absorption to the 3(0)(1) vibronic level of the (3)R(1)(E) Rydberg state of the B-band.