Photofragment translational spectroscopy of ICl near 304 and 280 nm: Observation of an intense hot band effect

The photodissociation dynamics of ICl has been studied near 304 and 280 nm on a simple miniature time of flight (mini-TOF) photofragment translational spectrometer with a short pulse of a weak acceleration field. An intense hot band effect was observed. Many small peaks were resolved in each photofragment translational spectrum (PTS). Based on simulations, the principal peaks were assigned not only to the different photodissociation channels (1) I + Cl, (2) I + Cl*, (3) I* + Cl, or (4) I* + Cl*, but also to the different chlorine isotopes (35Cl and Cl). Moreover, some extra peaks showed the existence of an intense hot 37 band effect from vibrationally excited ICl molecules, though only a few percent of ICl molecules remained in the vibrationally excited states in our supersonic molecular beam. Based on the spectra near 304 nm, the quantum yield Ф of each channel, the curve crossing, and the branching fraction σ from each transition state were determined.

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.