INTERFERENCE EFFECTS IN THE PHOTODISSOCIATION OF FNO

Two-dimensional wave packet calculations on the photodissociation of F NO --> F + NO in the S-1 state were carried out to analyze the asymmet ric resonance line shapes (Fano profiles) in the absorption spectrum i n terms of a continuum, a resonance, and an interference contribution. Vibrationally resolved partial cross sections were calculated which p redict a strong variation of the vibrational state distribution in the NO fragment as a function of the energy in the vicinity of a resonanc e. This effect is due to a substantial interference contribution to th e vibronic absorption cross section. The results were compared to rece nt experimental findings by Reisler and co-workers and to the Fano mod el applied to predissociation. Further, we simulated the excitation wi th a semi-infinite laser pulse to extract resonance energies from the time behavior of the calculated S-1 <-- S-0 transition rates.