Photofragmentation of CH3I, CD3I and CF3I. Formation of I(2P1/2) as a function of wavelength

Abstract

Using several excitation wavelengths in the region from 247.5 to 312.5 nm, the branching ratio ²P_1/2/²P_3/2 has been established for the iodine atom produced in the photolysis of CH₃I, CD₃I and CF₃I. An optoacoustic system is used and details of technique and analysis are given. For each molecule three transitions are observed in the σ*â†�n continuum and the position, intensity and bandwidth of each are given. The extent of curve-crossing following the A^*₁â†�A₁ transition appears to be approximately the same for all three molecules.