DISCRETE UV ABSORPTION BY N-3(- (N2)N CLUSTERS() )

Photoabsorptions by N3+-(N2)n complexes have been observed near 282 nm by detecting both N+ and N3+ photofragments. The absorptions occur ne ar the recently characterized A 3PI<--X 3SIGMA(g)- transition of the N 3+ cation, implying that the larger complexes essentially consist of a n N3+ core surrounded by electrostatically bound N2 ligands. Two mecha nisms for the photodissociation are proposed, one involving coupling o f the A state of the N3+ chromophore to a dissociative 3PI surface to produce N+ fragments, the other beginning with A-->X internal conversi on followed by a series of N2 ligand evaporations to leave only N3+.