OBSERVATION OF THE SPIN-FORBIDDEN O(D-1)-2(X (3)SIGMA(-)(G)) CHANNEL IN THE 317-327 NM PHOTOLYSIS OF OZONE(O)

The photofragment excitation spectra for O(D-1) production from the 31 7-327 nm photolysis of ozone under supersonic free-jet and low-tempera ture flow conditions show structure superimposed on an underlying cont inuum. Doppler profiles of the nascent O(D-1) photofragments confirm t hat the O(D-1) formed by photolysis at the wavelengths of the peaks in the photofragment excitation spectrum arises from the hitherto unobse rved spin-forbidden predissociaton to O(D-1) + O-2(X(3) Sigma(g)(-)) p roducts. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.