TIME-RESOLVED FTIR STUDY OF THE 308 NM PHOTOLYSIS OF NO2 - NASCENT VIBRATIONAL POPULATIONS AND QUENCHING OF NO(UPSILON=1-3)

The nascent distribution of the vibrationally excited NO product of NO 2 photolysis at 308 nm has been determined by time-resolved FTIR spect roscopy. The percentage distribution in the excited vibrational levels upsilon = 1:2:3 was found to he (28 +/- 3:38 +/- 4:34 +/- 4), with ne gligible population in higher levels, The distribution is inconsistent with that predicted from simple statistical theories, and indicates t hat at this wavelength dynamical effects control tile vibrational ener gy partitioning. The quenching of NO(upsilon) by NO2 is dominated by s ingle quantum energy transfer. but does not populate the closely reson ant (0, 0, 1) level of NO2 with unit efficiency. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence B.V.