SiO is a widespread molecule found in interstellar space, and its dissociation requires a substantial input of energy due to its high bond energy of 8.34 eV. The present study initially demonstrated across a broad range of ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths (243-288 nm) the one-photon and two-photon dissociation of SiO molecules, which were generated from the laser ablation of a Si rod colliding with an oxygen molecular beam. The images of Si products obtained through time-sliced ion velocity mapping have revealed the existence of distinct dissociation channels, encompassing Si(3P) + O(3P), Si(1D) + O(3P), Si(1D) + O(1D) and Si(1S) + O(1D) from the photodissociation of vibrationally excited SiO(X1Σ+, v) and low-lying electronically excited SiO(C1Σ-, D1Δ, a3Σ+, b3Π, d3Δ and e3Σ-) states. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of silicon chemistry during the combustion of silica-rich meteorites in the Earth's atmosphere, and have wider implications in the fields of atmospheric chemistry, astrochemistry, and combustion science.
Read full abstract7-days of FREE Audio papers, translation & more with Prime
7-days of FREE Prime access