THE VUV PHOTODISSOCIATION CH3-]CH(A(2)DELTA AND B(2)SIGMA-)-2(H)

Excitation spectra monitoring the formation of CH(A 2DELTA) and CH(B 2 SIGMA-) fragment from methyl radicals were taken at photolysis wavelen gths above 105 nm. All known Rydberg states accessible in the VUV by o ne-photon absorption are observed to predissociate yielding CH(A) and, to a much lesser extent, CH(B). The Rydberg states are suggested to c ouple to a steeply repulsive CH3 state which correlates with the CH(A) +H-2 products.