The two-photon dissociation of NO at wavelengths near 275 nm has been
investigated by velocity map imaging of the O(P-3(2)) dissociation pro
duct. Two channels are seen, corresponding to formation of the co-prod
uct N atoms in their ground (S-4) and excited (D-2) states, and the re
lative yields and angular distributions measured. In their regions of
maximum yield, the channel forming N(D-2) produces unaligned products,
whereas that producing N(S-4) can be described by a beta value of ca.
0.4. N(D-2)/N(S-4) ratios vary by a factor of 60 over a narrow range
of excitation energies. The use of two-photon excitation of NO as a so
urce of aligned atoms for reaction stereodynamics is discussed. (C) 19
98 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.