PHOTODISSOCIATION OF KR2F(4(2)TAU) IN THE ULTRAVIOLET AND NEAR-INFRARED - WAVELENGTH DEPENDENCE OF KRF(B-2-SIGMA) YIELD

The photoabsorption spectrum of the 4 (2) Gamma excited state of Kr2F has been measured in the 280-850 nm region by fluorescence suppression spectroscopy. Both the 9 (2) Gamma<--4 (2) Gamma and 6 (2) Gamma<--4 (2) Gamma bands, peaking at 320 and similar to 710 nn, respectively, h ave been observed-the latter for the first time. Although the position of the ultraviolet band is consistent with both theory and previous e xperiments, its spectral width is similar to 40% of that measured by G reene and McCown [Appl. Phys, Lett. 54, 1965 (1989)] in absorption exp eriments in a pulsed discharge. The relative yield of KrF(B) produced in the photodissociation of Kr2F(4 (2) Gamma) was found to be independ ent of wavelength over the 280-360 nm and 590-840 nm spectral interval s and the mechanism responsible for photodissociation appears to be pr edissociation of the Kr2F 9 (2) Gamma and 6 (2) Gamma states by potent ials correlated with the KrF(D) + Kr and KrF(C) + Kr limits, respectiv ely. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.