Quantitative absorption and fluorescence studies of NO between 1060 and 2000 AA

Abstract

Synchrotron radiation in the 1060-2000 AA region has been used to measure the average absorption and fluorescence cross sections of NO and to determine approximate photodissociation quantum yields. Several vibrational levels of the D 2 Sigma +, E 2 Sigma + and B' 2 Delta states have high fluorescence quantum yields. The C 2 Pi and B 2 Pi states do not fluoresce (to the detection limits) when the excitation energies are above the first dissociation limit. In general, the fluorescence yields decrease with increasing photon energy. The present quantitative fluorescence measurements are compared with spectroscopic observations and are found to be reasonably consistent.