NEW DISSOCIATION CHANNELS IN D2O

Making use of a novel solid xenon matrix detector which is selectively sensitive to O(S-1(0)) metastable atoms, a new dissociation channel, via a (1)A(1) repulsive state, has been uniquely identified following electron impact on D2O molecules. Careful measurements of the O fragme nt kinetic energies and appearance potentials have allowed partial rec onstruction of the potential energy surface involved. The excitation f unction for production of O(S-1(0)) has a shape which is characteristi c of an optically allowed transition in the parent molecule and has a maximum value of 1.2 x 10(-18) cm(2) at 100 eV incident electron energ y.