Velocity map imaging and REMPI study of the photodissociation of CH3SCH3 from the first absorption band

The photodissociation of dimethyl sulfide (CH3SCH3) at 319 nm has been stud ied employing a combination of velocity map imaging and time-of-flight reso nance-enhanced multiphoton ionization techniques to detect the CH3 products . Translational energy and recoil angle distributions as well as rotational state populations have been determined for the CH3 photofragments formed i n the ground vibrational state. The electronic excitation of CH3SCH3 to the first absorption band is found to produce fast CH3S + CH3 (nu = 0) recoili ng products with a negative spatial anisotropy parameter of beta = -0.85 +/ - 0.05. The CH3 (nu = 0) products are rotationally cold, the rotational dis tribution peaking at N " = 3-4. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.