TEA CO2 laser-induced photodissociation of UF6 via interspecies V-V energy transfer from multiple photon excited halomethanes

The dissociation of UF₆ sensitized by multiple photon excitation of a series of halomethanes: CF₄, CF₃Cl, and CF₂Cl₂ has been investigated. The roles of various experimental parameters like exciting frequency, fluence and pressures of sensitizer/UF₆ on the dissociation yield were studied to examine (1) the characteristics of the sensitizer/UF₆ system and (2) the coupling of vibrational energy between two molecular systems. The efficiency of the energy transfer process was estimated on the basis of long range dipole-dipole interaction to gain an understanding of the dissociation process.