Ozone photolysis: determination of the O(3P) quantum yield at 266 nm

Direct production of O(³P) from the photodissociation of O₃ at 266 nm has been observed by time-resolved resonance fluorescence following laser flash photolysis. The quantum yield for O(³P) production was determined to be 0.12 = 0.02 at this wavelength. This result confirms the qualitative observations of two previous photofragment studies and establishes an absolute value of Φ(O¹D)) = 0.88. This value has been used as a basis for normalizing relative quantum yields in the falloff region, and interpreting O(¹D) kinetics studies.