Initial Distribution of CO† from the Reaction O+CS→ CO†+S

Abstract

The CS2/O2 cw chemical laser has been studied in a transverse flow system. From a determination of the temperature and the upper state J value for which maximum gain occurred, in several CO vibrational bands, an estimate of part of the initial vibrational distribution of CO† from the reaction O+CS→CO†+Swas obtained. This distribution indicated that the ``most probable'' level of formation of newly born CO† is v=12± 1, which represents approximately 90% of the energy librated from the reaction.