THE SEQUENTIAL 2-PHOTON DISSOCIATION OF NO AS A SOURCE OF ALIGNED N(D-2), N(S-4) AND O(P-3) ATOMS

Velocity map imaging is used to characterise the angular distributions of atoms which are formed from the sequential two photon excitation o f NO via the A(2) Sigma(+) state. Molecules excited at 226 nm and diss ociated at 339 nm from the same laser source yield two sets of product s, ground state O(P-3) atoms in conjunction with N(D-2) and N(S-4). Th e angular distributions are found to be well described by beta paramet ers. The use of this method as a source of monoenergetic aligned atoms for studies of reaction dynamics is discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scie nce B.V.