Vacuum ultra-violet photolysis of nitrous oxide. Energy disposal in the reaction O(21D)+ N2O → 2NO

Abstract

The vacuum u.v. photolysis of N₂O has been studied at 170 nm, and (140–155) nm. Energy disposal in the reaction O(2¹D)+ N₂O → 2NO has been investigated at the longer wavelengths and the distribution over vibrational states found to be consistent with a ‘complex’ mechanism. At the shorter wavelengths experiments with ¹⁵NNO indicate formation of NO via reaction of O(2¹D), N₂(Atilde;³Σ⁺_u) and possibly O(2¹S) with N₂O, though the majority of O(2¹S) atoms are physically deactivated to the 2¹D state.