Photodissociation of t-butyl nitrite between 220 and 250 nm: internal energy distribution of NO

Internal energy distribution of the NO product from photodissociation of t- butyl nitrite in the region between 220 and 250 nm are presented. The rotat ional distribution for all the vibrational levels are similar throughout th e region, with a dominant Gaussian-like highly rotationally (J) excited com ponent and a minor low-J component. Increase in the dissociation energy has a dramatic effect on the vibrational distribution: at 250 nm, the upsilon" = 0 channel dominates, while at 220 nm, the upsilon" = 0 channel is undete ctable using our apparatus. These observations reveal new information on th e S-2 surface and the dissociation dynamics of t-butyl nitrite. (C) 2000 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.