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Photodissociation of the molecules RNCS and RSCN (R=H, CH3, and C2H5) was investigated at 248 and 193 nm and the internal energy distributions in the CN resulting from the RS+CN fragmentation channel were probed by laser induced fluorescence. These CN distributions were identical for formation from the isomer pairs in agreement with an excited state isomerization postulated earlier. At 248 nm, all precursors lead to nearly thermal CN rotational distributions with rotational temperatures of approximately 1100 K in v=0 and 800 K in v=1. The vibrational distributions could not be characterized by the same temperatures. At 193 nm, contributions from two apparently different dissociation channels were observed. The CN rotational populations showed a narrow, strongly peaked distribution lying on a broad, approximately statistical distribution. For HNCS, this peak occurs near N=10 suggesting dissociation from an excited state with a linear NCS skeleton. For the alkyl precursors, the peak occurs at very high rotational quantum number (N=70) indicating an excited state with a bent NCS framework. Vibrational distributions with population out to v=6 were observed. In all cases, the apparent statistical part of the rotational distribution and the vibrational distributions can be described by a prior function derived assuming that the internal modes of the alkyl substituent are not involved in any energy redistribution during the dissociation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 248 and 193 nm photodissociation of the series of molecules RNCS and RSCN (R=H, CH3, C2H5) has been investigated. Laser-induced fluorescence of the radical NCS was used to probe the energy deposition in the R+NCS channel of this dissociation, however excitation to many vibrational states of NCS caused spectral congestion which prohibited direct measurement of populations of individual levels. A single-photon dissociation channel leading to RS and CN was observed for both isomers of all of the precursor molecules. While this was expected for the thiocyanate species, no direct channel to these products is available for the isothiocyanates. This observation is discussed in terms of an excited state isomerization of these molecules. Measured ratios of CN to NCS production for all compounds provide additional support for this mechanism and suggest a significant barrier to the process. Comparison of nascent laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of NCS with spectra obtained following different amounts of collisional relaxation suggests that all three vibrational modes were equally excited with a vibrational temperature of roughly 4500 K. The rotational temperature was estimated to be less than 1000 K. A spin–orbit population inversion was observed for all vibrational levels with approximately 75% of the population in the upper spin–orbit component of the vibrationless and low lying bending excited levels. No simple model is found to explain the photodissociation dynamics or the isomerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diode laser transient absorption/gain spectroscopy is used to monitor time-dependent populations of high rotational levels in OD (v=0) produced in the reaction of O(1D)+D2. Pure rotational transitions on species with large dipole moments offer good sensitivity, full state resolution and μs time resolution in the present apparatus. Measured nascent populations of OD in the four highest rotational levels thermodynamically accessible in this reaction are in reasonable agreement with the reported results of earlier laser-induced-fluorescence measurements, in which corrections for transition moments and predissociation introduce increasing uncertainties at high rotational levels. The relaxation kinetics of the highest rotational levels are not hopelessly complex, and evidence is presented for strong, but not complete propensity for conservation of Λ doublet symmetry during rotational relaxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-induced fluorescence excitation spectra have been recorded for many vibronic transitions of the A(2Π)–X(2Π) and B(2Σ+)–X(2Π) systems of NCS under supersonic free jet expansion conditions. New assignments have been made for many of these bands and several of the assignments from previous work have been revised. Vibronic energies have been determined for levels involving excitation of all three vibrational modes in the ground electronic state and both excited electronic states. A detailed rotational and vibrational analysis has been carried out for levels involving excitations of the two stretching modes and the many rotational and potential function constants have been determined for the A and X states. The variation of the spin–orbit constant with vibrational level has also been investigated. Results of this paper provide the ground work for a detailed analysis of the Renner–Teller effect in the bending vibrational mode of this radical for both the X2(Π) and A(2Π) states to appear in a forthcoming paper. They also provide a spectroscopic database for future dynamical and kinetics studies of processes involving this radical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser induced fluorescence measurements of NCO formed in the reaction CN+O2→NCO+O in a free jet expansion are reported. The rotational temperature achieved in the experiments was typically 10–15 K and absorption from vibrationally excited levels was very much reduced in intensity. Two bands in the A–X system, the v1, v2, v3=200–000 and 120–000, of the radical were rotationally resolved for the first time, and wavelength resolved laser excited fluorescence measurements have been used to characterize many ground state vibronic energy levels below 6000 cm-1 in energy. Stimulated emission pumping experiments were carried out on vibronic levels associated with the ν3 vibration with 1≤v3≤3 in the electronic ground state. Harmonic and anharmonic constants were determined, together with the spin–orbit coupling parameters and rotational constants for these levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]