SELECTIVE EXCITATION OF ICN ACHIEVED VIA BRUTE FORCE ORIENTATION

Brute force orientation of ICN was achieved using a strong uniform ele ctric field and supersonic expansion. When the dissociation laser at 2 49 nm was polarized parallel to the orientation field, the (II0+)-I-3 surface was preferentially accessed. The yield of CN in low rotational states was enhanced by similar to 50% compared with that from dissoci ation under perpendicular polarization. Highly rotationally excited fr agments were not affected by the polarization direction of the dissoci ation laser, providing evidence of the contribution of a perpendicular surface in the absorption process. This work demonstrates the selecti vity achieved via brute force orientation and the advantages thus offe red for studies of photodissociative processes.