Photoionization of single rotational levels in excited B 2Π, C 2Π, and D 2Σ+ states of 14N16O

Abstract

Rotational state selective fluorescence excitation and two-color resonantly enhanced ionization of nitric oxide has been investigated under collision free conditions. Single photon absorption from a tunable VUV laser source prepared the molecules in the intermediate B 2Π, C 2Π, and D 2Σ+ states energetically close to the dissociation limit of NO. The dissociation of C 2Π(v′=0) at J′=2.5(2Π3/2) and J′=3.5(2Π1/2) as well as B 2Π(v′=7) at J′=4.5(2Π3/2) and J′=7.5 (2Π1/2) was clearly established. Time delayed photoionization was used to measure the lifetimes of stable and weakly predissociative states. Photoionization cross sections of single rotational levels in the electronically excited states have been determined by saturating the ionization step.