The Pathways and Dynamics of Molecular Decomposition
Abstract
Molecular decompositions often control complex chemical reactions by producing a highly reactive fragment that determines the subsequent chemistry. Despite the importance of such processes, there is little detailed information available for testing theoretical models and guiding the analysis of practical systems. This report describes experiments that produce, characterize, and dissociate highly energized molecules in order to uncover the details of molecular decomposition. These experiments create highly energized molecules either by vibrational overtone excitation or electronic excitation and detect the products either by a state-resolved laser detection technique, such as laser induced fluorescence, or by energy-selective ionization using vacuum ultraviolet photons. The state-resolved measurements probe the decomposition dynamics by determining the quantum state populations in the products and their appearance rates. These data provide a particularly good point of comparison with theoretical models and are a test of the applicability of statistical theories. The energy-selective ionization studies can also provide rate information but are most valuable as a means of identifying the primary dissociation products and their recoil energies. The use of vacuum ultraviolet photons makes our apparatus very sensitive. We have proven the technique on electronic photodissociation of a series of nitroalkanes and on nitrobenzene.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 12, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA249627
Entities
People
- F. F. Crim