Infrared laser induced energy transfer studies in S18O2

Vibrational energy transfer has been studied in S¹⁸O₂, following pumping of the symmetric stretch (ν₁) by a Q-switched CO₂ laser. Fluorescence from the asymmetric stretch (ν₃) is monitored as a function of time following the laser pulse. This fluorescence rises with a rate constant of 74 ± 10 ms^?1 torr^?1, and then decays with a rate constant of 3.6 ± 0.1 ms^?1 torr^?1 for the S¹⁸O₂ itself. The effect of rare gases on the rise and fall rates was also studied. The results agree well with those on S¹⁶O₂ and are consistent with a double V-V picture in which the excitation is distributed rapidly between the stretches, but is shared with the bend much more slowly. This produces molecules in which the stretches are much “hotter” than the bend, giving rise to possibilities of laser action on the stretch-to-bend transitions and mode-selective vibrational enhancement of chemical reactions. Also, new results have been derived on the kinetics of V-V processes in mixtures. V-V transfer in various isotopic mixtures of SO₂ has been studied and the kinetic analysis indicates that S¹⁸O₂ and S¹⁶O₂ exhibit the same V-V rates.