Production and properties of S(1S) in liquid argon (88 °K) and nitrogen (77 °K)

Abstract

Photodissociation of OCS to produce S(1S) has been observed in both liquid argon and liquid nitrogen over the wavelength range 144 to 161 nm. Over this wavelength range, the quantum yields are within a factor of 2 of those previously measured in the gas phase. Spectra of the emissions have been measured. The emissions have radiative lifetimes of (39±2) μsec in liquid argon and (50±3) μsec in liquid nitrogen. Evidence is presented that S(1S) exists mainly as bound molecules in these media and that the lifetimes measured are those for the bound 2 1Σ+−1 1Σ+ transitions. In these media the quenching of the emission by OCS has a rate coefficient of (4±1) ×10−14 cm3 molecule−1 sec−1.