INFRARED FLUORESCENCE STUDY OF ELECTRONIC-TO-VIBRATIONAL ENERGY-TRANSFER IN THE BR(P-2(1 2))-NO SYSTEM/

Steady-state laser photolysis techniques were used to study collisiona l energy transfer from spin-orbit excited atomic bromine to vibration in the ground electronic state of nitric oxide. Photodissociation of m olecular bromine at lambda = 488 nm was used to produce Br(P-2(1/2)), and energy transfer was monitored by observing the infrared fluorescen ce from Br(P-2(1/2)) near lambda = 2.71 mu m and from NO(upsilon = 1, 2) near lambda = 5.3 mu m as a function of Br-2 and NO pressures. The rate coefficient for quenching of Br(P-2(1/2)) by NO was determined as 1.9 +/- 0.2 x 10(-12) cm(3)/molecule s. The product of this quenching process prefers NO(upsilon = 2), with a quantum yield of greater than 0.76. These results are discussed in connection with a recent Br(P-2( 1/2))-NO laser demonstration.