Infrared photochemistry of ethylene clusters

Journal Article · Sun Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Chem. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.439174· OSTI ID:5295433

Casassa, M P; Bomse, D S; Beauchamp, J L; Janda, K C

Infrared irradiation of ethylene clusters formed in supersonic molecular beams, using a low power cw CO/sub 2/ laser, results in the photodissociation of a large fraction of the van der Waals molecules. Under such conditions, infrared absorption intensity exhibits first-order power dependence and is readily detected as loss in molecular beam intensity. Intramolecular energy transfer rates, determined by measuring spectral linewidths, are shown to vary with the vibrational mode initially excited. Ethulene clsuters containing one quantum of vibrational energy corresponding to the ..nu..n/sub 7/ fundamental in the monomer (949 cm/sup -1/) have a vibrationally predissociative lifetime of 0.33 psec. In comparison, the relaxation rate of ethulene-d/sub 4/ clusters with one quantum of exctation corresponding to the ..nu../sub 12/ (1078 cm/sup -1/) mode of C/sub 2/D/sub 4/ is 0.7 psec.

• Research Organization: Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasedaena, California 91125
• OSTI ID: 5295433
• Journal Information: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 72:12; ISSN JCPSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400500* -- Photochemistry
ALKENES
BEAMS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY LEVELS
ETHYLENE
EXCITED STATES
HYDROCARBONS
INFRARED RADIATION
LASER RADIATION
MOLECULAR BEAMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
RADIATIONS
RELAXATION
VIBRATIONAL STATES