The photodissociation dynamics of cyclic sulfides probed with tunable undulator radiation

The combination of tunable synchrotron radiation with photofragment transla tional spectroscopy has been used to probe the photodissociation dynamics o f a variety of cyclic sulfides. The results demonstrate the many advantages of using synchrotron radiation in place of electron impact ionization in p hotochemistry studies. Our universal and selective experimental approach is easily able to distinguish the ground state S(P-3) and the first excited s tate S(D-1), for example, and provides photoion yield spectra of all produc ts. These measurements afford unambiguous identification of the primary dec ay pathways, as well as unique insights into the properties of the product species, often radicals or transient metastable species. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.