Photofragment translational spectroscopy at 304 nm from C-H symmetric stretch excited CH_3I [v_1 = 1]

The 304 nm photodissociation of the C-H symmetric stretch excited CH3I[v1=1,v2=0](v1 denotes the C-H symmetric stretch mode,and v2 denotes the umbrella mode)is studied with our simple photofragment translational spectrometer.An IR laser is used to excite the ground state CH3I[0,0]to the C-H symmetric stretch excited CH3I[1,0].With IR laser OFF and ON,the fractions of photofragments CH3(ν1,ν2)from the 304 nm photodissociation of CH3I[1,0]have been determined through the photofragment translational spectra(PTS)from measuring I and I*and also through the PTS from measuring CH3(0,0)(1,0)(0,1)and(1,1).The experimental results show that the C-H symmetric stretch vibration(v1=1)in parent molecules is about 66%retained in the photofragments in the I channel,but only 24%in the I*channel.The populations of photofragments CH3(0,2)and(0,3)are higher than CH3(0,0)and(0,1),showing strong inverted population both in I and I*channels.