PHOTOFRAGMENT VECTOR CORRELATIONS BY ION IMAGING - O2[A(1)DELTA(G)(UPSILON,J)] FROM 248-NM DISSOCIATION OF OZONE

Images bf the two-dimensional projection of the nascent three-dimensio nal velocity distribution of O2 [a 1DELTA(g) (v, J)] from the Hartley band (248 nm) dissociation of ozone have been obtained using resonance -enhanced multiphoton ionization coupled with time-of-flight ion imagi ng. These projections show strong evidence of v-J correlation. The two -dimensional (2D) images were simulated using a Monte Carlo forward co nvolution program that accounts for the dependence of the detection ef ficiency on angular momentum polarization, and uses the final O2 rotat ional level as the only adjustable parameter. The experimental results are accurately reproduced assuming an impulsive dissociation from the ground-state geometry (beta = 1.18). The results suggest generally th at the ion-imaging technique may be readily exploited in studies seeki ng to quantify product angular momentum polarization, and may be usefu l for both photodissociation and collision experiments.