Wavelength dependence of HCO formation in the photolysis of acetaldehyde

The wavelength dependence of HCO(0,0,0) formation in the photodissociation of acetaldehyde was measured using narrow (0.1 nm) bandwidth laser excitation and time-resolved intracavity laser detection (TRILD). A sharp energetic onset at 320 ± 1 nm (89.3 ± 0.3 kcal) for HCO(0,0,0) formation was found. The maximum concentration of HCO(0,0,0) occurs between 100 and 250 μs after excitation depending on the wavelength of excitation