NO PRODUCT YIELD EXCITATION SPECTRUM OF THE S-0-]S-2 TRANSITION OF NITROSOBENZENE IN A SUPERSONIC JET

The absorption spectrum of the S-0 --> S-2 transition of ultracold nit rosobenzene in a supersonic jet was measured indirectly by monitoring the product yield of the NO fragment. The vibrational structure and re lative line intensities are in good agreement with the corresponding s pectrum in an argon matrix. It is concluded that the yield of photofra gmentation is constant for all vibronic S-2-states up to an excess ene rgy of 3500 cm(-1). The electronic origin line has a Lorentzian linesh ape with a homogeneous width of (90 +/- 5) cm(-1). This corresponds to a lifetime of tau(S-2) = 60 +/- 3 fs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.