Laser-induced infrared fluorescence of O3 trapped in xenon matrices

Abstract

A strong IR fluorescence is observed following the excitation of O3 at the ν1+ν3 mode in xenon matrices. The emission frequency is characteristic of the 2ν3 to ν3 transition. The rise time and the decay time are both faster than a few nanoseconds. The excitation spectra are similar to the line profile of the ν1+ν3 absorption at 5 K. A spectral analysis of the fluorescence shows that no energy transfer occurs during the relaxation between molecules in the two trapping sites. The most perturbed molecules (high frequency component of the absorptions) seem to have a faster relaxation, exhibiting a stronger temperature dependence. The possible intramolecular vibrational cascades are discussed considering the literature data about vibrational relaxation of matrix isolated small polyatomic molecules in their ground electronic state.