Lifetimes of the vibronic Ã2A1 states of H2O+ and of the 3Πi (υ′ = 0) state of OH+

Using the delayed coincidence technique, lifetimes have been measured for some Σ and Π vibronic òA₁ states of H₂O⁺ and for the ³Π_i (υ′ = 0) state of OH⁺ by analysing the decay curves of the òA₁(0, υ′₂, 0) ? X?²B₁ (0, υ″₂, 0) and the ³Π_i(υ′ = 0) ? ³Σ^?(υ″ = 0) emission intensities respectively. The excited molecular ionic states are produced via excitation of H₂O molecules by 200 eV electrons. For H₂O⁺(òA₁) the vibronic Σ levels with υ′₂ = 13 and 15 and the vibronic Π levels with υ′₂ = 12 and 14 have been considered. The radiative lifetimes obtained for these levels have about the same value, namely 10.5(±1) × 10^?6 s. The radiative lifetime for the OH⁺(³Π_iυ′= 0) state is 2.5(±0.3) × 10^?6 s. The lifetimes found in this work for H₂O⁺(òA₁) and OH⁺(³Π_i,υ′= 0) are about ten and three times longer respectively than the corresponding lifetimes given by other investigators [1,2]. The probable reason for this discrepancy is that in the other experiments no attention has been paid to the presence of a large space charge effect. This effect is caused by the positive ions which are created by the primary electron beam.     

Laser fluorescence spectroscopy and lifetime of the 2B1 (K′ ⪢ 0) electronic state of NO2

Fluorescence of NO₂ excited by HeCd 442 nm laser radiation is found to exhibit a spectrum characteristic of perpendicular transitions from several levels belonging to ²B₁ (K′ ? 0) vibronic states. The lifetime of a level K′ = 4, N′ = 16 ± 1 is 36 μs, substantially greater than lifetimes given previously for K′ = 0 levels of the ²B₁ state. This result supports the mechanism of lifetime lengthening by the Renner interaction of the ²B₁ and ²A₁ components of the linear ²Π_u state.     

Laser induced fluorescence of CH2 (ã1A1) produced in the photodissociation of ketene at 337 nm. The CH2 (ã1A1-X̃3B1)energy separation

The photodissociation of ketene, CH₂CO(X?¹A₁) → CH₂ (ã¹A₁) + CO(X ¹Σ⁺) has been observed at 337 nm, using a pulsed nitrogen laser. The CH₂ (ã ¹A₁) radical has been detected by laser induced fluorescence with a tunable dye laser. A laser excitation spectrum has been obtained from CH₂(ã ¹A₁) over the wavelength interval from 588.9 to 595.6 nm in the Σ ← Π vibronic subband of the CH₂ (ã ¹A₁); υ″ = 0, 0, 0?b? ¹B₁; υ′ = 0, 14, 0) transition. For the CH₂(ã ¹A₁ ; υ′= 0, 0, 0?X? ³B₁; υ′' = 0, 0, 0) energy separation an upper limit of (6.3 ^± 0.8) kcal/mole has been found. The radiative lifetime τ and the rate constant k for the removal of the 0₀₀ rotational level of the Σ(0, 14, 0) vibronic state have been measured directly. The values are τ = (4.2 ^± 0.2) μs and k = (7.4 ± 0.3) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively.     

The radiative lifetimes of the first excited state of BO and BO2

A pulsed dye laser has been used to study the fluorescence of BO and BO₂ in the gas phase at low pressure. Radiative lifetimes of 87.2 ± 2.6 and 76.3 ± 1.4 ns were obtained for the (000) and (100) levels of BO₂(A ²Π_u) and of 131 ± 15 and 103 ± 6 ns for levels v¹ = 1 and 2 of BO(A ²Π). Unlike BO₂(A ²Π_u), BO(A ²Π) is strongly quenched by the oxygen carrier.     

Determination of the radiative lifetimes of the b1Σ+ and a1Δ states in NH by ab initio methods

Probabilities for the spin-forbidden transitions from the b¹Σ⁺ and a¹Δ states to the X³Σ^? ground state of NH have been evaluated by a first-order perturbation expansion into S-eigenfunctions Nine ³Π and ¹Π, five ¹Σ⁺ and three ³Σ^? states have been calculated by the MRD CI method at the experimental equilibrium distance of the X³Σ^? state (1.0362 Å) which cover a vertical spectral region of = 100000 cm^?1. The expansion terms of the perturbation sum are spin-orbit coupling coefficients obtained by using the Breit-Pauli one- and two-electron spin-orbit operator. The radiative lifetime of b¹Σ⁺ has been determined in the Franck-Condon approximation to be 72 ms from ab initio data and 97 ms if experimental excitation energies for the low-lying valence states are employed. Recent experiments give a somewhat shorter lifetime for the corresponding 0-0 transition of 53 ms. The lifetime is governed by the transition to the ³Σ^?_±1 level of the non-rotating molecule, borrowing its intensity mainly from the A³Π → X³Σ^? dipole transition. The second possible transition to the Ω = 0 level of the ground state is found to be weak. A similar relation of μ₁/μ₀ is expected for all the hydrogen containing isovalent molecules such as PH and AsH. The radiative lifetime of the a¹Δ state has been calculated to be = 1.7 s. Recent matrix experiments predict a gas-phase lifetime of at least 3 s. Further experimental and theoretical investigations are in progress to clarify this unusual finding that the experimentally determined lifetime is longer than that calculated theoretically.     

Direct measurement of the radiative lifetime of the A2Σ+(υ′ = 0, K′ = 1, J′ = 32) state of OH and OD

The radiative lifetime of the A²Σ⁺(υ′ = 0, K′ = 1, J′ = 3/2) state of OH and OD has been directly measured by following the decay of fluorescence excited by light from a frequency doubled dye laser. Stern-Volmer extrapolation of the results to zero pressure gave τ(OH) = 788 ± 13 ns and τ(OD) = 754 ± 12 ns.     

Rotational analysis of the A—X bands of S+2

The S⁺₂ (A²Π_u-X²Π_g) emission system from sulphur monochloride in a helium flowing afterglow has been analysed in the 5000–6000 Å region. Molecular constants for the S⁺₂ (A²Π_u, X²Π_g) states have been determined and are compared with previous estimates. Equilibrium bond lengths of S⁺₂ are found to be: X²Π_g,r_e = 1.8226 ± 0.0010 Å and A²Π_u, r_e = 2.0441 ± 0.0013 Å.     

Lifetimes and transition probabilities for NH(A3Πi-X3Σ−)

Temporally and spectrally resolved laser-induced fluorescence in the A³Π_i-X³Σ^? system of the NH radical has been measured in a low-pressure flow discharge. The radiative lifetimes of the υ′ = 1 and 0 levels are. respectively, 420 ± 3.5 and 440 ± 15 ns. Relative transition probabilities A_1υ″ for emission from υ′ = 1 are: A₁₀ = 0.030 ± 0.006. A₁₁ = 1.00, A₁₂ = 0.032 ± 0.003 and A₁₃ = 0.0014 ± 0.0002. Calculations of relative A_υ′υ″ using a Morse potential and a previously, calculated ab initio electronic transition moment yield results for this highly diagonal transition which agree with experiment to within a factor of three or better.     

Lifetime measurements on single vibrational levels of C2(d 3Πg) by laser fluorescence excitation

The radiative lifetimes of the six lowest vibrational levels of C₂(d ³Π_g) were obtained from decay time studies of the C₂(d ³Π_g → a ³Π_u) Swan band fluorescence excited by a pulsed tunable dye laser. The lifetime was found to be 120 ± 10 ns, independent of the vibrational level. From the experimental results the dependence of the electronic transition moment on the internuclear distance was derived.     

The radiative lifetime of the A1II state of BH

Second-order polarization propagator calculations of the X¹Σ⁺ → A¹II transition moment as well as the radiative lifetime of the A¹II state of BH are reported. The calculated vibrational lifetimes are τ(v′ = 0) = 121 ns, τ(v′ = 1) = 129 ns, and τ(v′ = 2) = 137 ns. The τ(v′ = 0 lifetime agrees with the most recent experiment of τ(v′ = 0) = 125 ± 5 ns. We show that the electronic oscillator strength computed at the ground state equilibrium is rather different from the band absorption oscillator strength f₀₀, which demonstrates that theoretical electronic oscillator strengths should not be expected to agree with experimentally determined band oscillator strengths.     

Fluorescence lifetimes in BO2 (A2Πu)

Fluorescence lifetimes and fluorescence quenching rates are reported for several vibronic levels in the A²Π_u electronic manifold of BO₂. The relationship of these results to earlier Hanle-effect measurements is discussed.     

Laser excited fluorescence of the Π vibronic states of BO2

The Π vibronic states of the $\text{X}$²Π_g electronic state of BO₂ have been studied by laser induced fluorescence. The (0, 0, 0) Π — (1, 0, 0) Π and the (1, 0, 0) Π — (2, 0, 0) Π vibronic bands were pumped with a cw dye laser. The results were used to obtain a new set of parameters for the $\text{X}$²Π_g electronic state. Also, the effect of the Fermi interaction on the (1, 0, 0), (2, 0, 0) and (3, 0, 0) fermiads was investigated.     

Lifetime measurements on electronically excited Ch(A2Δ) radicals

The radiative lifetime of electronically excited CH(A²Δ, υ' = 0) radicals was measured by laser-induced CH(A²Δ-X²5) fluorescence as t_o(CH^*) = 537.5 ± 5 ns Additionally, the rate constants or cross sections for quenching of CH(A²Δ, υ' = 0) by Ar and He were determined.     

High-resolution UV photoelectron spectrum of CO2

The highly-resolved HeI photoelectron spectrum of CO₂ is presented and its vibrational structure studied in detail. In the X? ²Π_g ionic state the v₃ antisymmetric mode is found to be excited in double quanta (v_1-v_2-v₃ = 0. 0. 2) with energy hv₃ = 181 meV. In the C? ²Σ_g⁺ state a single quantum of the same mode is found to be excited (hv₃ = 189 meV) in combination with a v₁ excitation. Vibronic interaction with vibrational levels in the B? ²Σ_u⁺ state of the ion is suggested to promote this (1, 0, 1) excitation. It is established that inelastic scattering processes contribute to the vibrational structure in the C? ²Σ_g⁺ band. The spin-orbit splitting in the X? ²Π_g is determined to be 19±1 meV and 10±2 eV in the ā²Π_u state. Vibronic structure is resolved in the X? ²Π_g band where the Renner-Teller coupling constant is determined to be ? = 0.21±0.02 and the vibrational energy of the v₂ mode as 60±7 meV. In the ā²Π_u state the v₂ energy is found to be hv₂ = 60 meV from the observed hot-band structure.     

Vacuum UV emission by electronically-excited N2: The radicative lifetime of the N2(a′1Σ−u state

A measurement of the electronic transition moment variation for the N₂(a'¹Σ^?_uX¹Σ^+g) band system has allowed a reassessment of the radiative lifetime of N₂(a′). Relaxation to N₂(a′,υ=0) is established as the major channel for quenching of N₂(a¹Π_g, υ = 0) molecules by Ar.     

The energy balance and branching ratios associated with the chemiluminescent reaction Si(3P) + N2O(1Σ) → SiO*(a3Σ+, b3Π, A1Π) + N2(υ″ ⩾ 5) — possible formation of vibrationally excited N2

Silicon atoms react under single collision conditions with N₂O to yield chemiluminescent emission corresponding to the SiO a³Σ⁺?X¹Σ⁺ and b³Π?X¹Σ⁺ intercombination systems and the A¹Π?X¹Σ⁺ band system. A most striking feature of the SiN₂O reaction is the energy balance associated with the formation of SiO product molecules in the A¹Π and b³Π states. A significant energy discrepancy ( = 10000 cm^? = 1.24 eV) is found between the available energy to populate the highest energetically accessible excited-state quantum levels and the highest quantum level from which emission is observed. It is suggested that this discrepancy may result from the formation of vibrationally excited N₂ in a concerted fast SiN₂O reactive encounter. Emission from the SiO a³Σ⁺ (A¹Π) and b³Π(A¹Π, E¹Σ₀⁺) triplet-state manifold results primarily from intensity borrowing involving the indicated singlet states. Perturbation calculations indicate the magnitude of the mixing between the b³Π, A¹Π and E¹Σ₀⁺ states ranges between 0.5 and 2%. On the basis of these calculations, the branching ratio (excited triplet)/(excited singlet) is found to be well in excess of 500. An approximate vibrational population distribution is deduced for those molecules formed in the b³Π state. The present studies are correlated with those of previous workers in order to provide an explanation for diverse relaxation effects as well as observed changes in the ratio of a³Σ⁺ to b³Π emission as a function of pressure and experimental environment. Some of these effects are attributable to a strong coupling between the a³Σ⁺ and b³Π state. Based on the current results, there appears to be little correlation between either (1) the branching ratio for excited state formation or (2) the total absolute cross section for excited-state formation and (3) the measured quantum yield for the SiN₂O reaction. Implications for chemical laser development are considered.     

Lifetimes of the A O−u state and quenching cross sections of Bi2

The radiative lifetime and self-quenching cross section of the v = 10 level of the BI₂ A state have been measured from laser-induced fluorescence experiments. The values obtained are 639 ns and 101 A² respectively A systematic investigation of lifetimes has been earned out at fixed pressure, showing strong decreases of lifetime owing to predissociations near v' = 28 and v' = 37. A comparison with previous results has been attempted.     

NH(A3Π → X3Σ−) Chemiluminescence from the CH(X2 Π) + NO reaction

NH(A³Π → X³Σ^?) and OH(A²Σ⁺ → X²Π) chemiluminescences from the reaction of CH(X²Π) with NO and O₂, respectively, have been observed at room temperature. From the decay of such emissions we have measured the rate constants for these two reactions: k_NO = (2.5 ± 0.5) × 10^?10 and k_O2 = (8 ± 3) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule ^?1 s^?1, which are in agreement with previously reported rates determined by direct CH(X) detection using, laser-induced fluorescence. This indicates that a four-centered mechanism generating these excited species is operative in both reactions. The CH generation from 266 nm photolysis of CHBr₃ has also been investigated via analysis of CH* emissions.     

The radiative lifetime of AlCl A 1Π

The radiative lifetime of the AlCl A ¹Π, v = 0 state has been determined by a laser-induced fluorescence method to be 6.4 × 10⁻⁹ s. The estimated accuracy limits are ± 40%.