Vibrational deactivation studies of OH X 2Π (v = 1–5) by N2 and O2

Abstract

The deactivation kinetics of vibrationally excited OH X ²Π (v = 1–5) were studied using a pulsed laser photolysis-pulsed laser induced fluorescence technique. Temporal profiles of OH (v) were obtained by exciting off-diagonal (Δv = −1,−3) transitions in the A–X band of OH and monitoring the diagonal, blue shifted fluorescence. Photolysis of O₃ at 266 nm was used to produce O¹D which reacted rapidly with H₂, CH₄ and H₂O to produce OH (v). Deactivation rate coefficients for OH (v = 1–5) with O₂ and N₂ and for OH (v = 2,1) with O₃ were obtained. The deactivation rate coefficients show an exponential dependence on vibrational level for both O₂ and N₂, however O₂ is much more efficient.