Atomic carbon emission from photodissociation of CO₂

Abstract

Atomic carbon fluorescence, C I 1561, 1657, and 1931 Å, has been observed from photodissociation of CO 2 , and the production cross sections have been measured. A line emission source provided the primary photons at wavelengths from threshold to 420 Å. The present results suggest that the excited carbon atoms are produced by total dissociation of CO 2 into three atoms. The cross sections for producing the O I 1304‐Å fluorescence through photodissociation of CO 2 are found to be less than 10 −2 Mb in the wavelength region from 420 to 835 Å. The present data have implications with respect to photochemical processes in the atmospheres of Mars and Venus.