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Measurement of the Lifetime of Predissociative Diatomic Molecules

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
;  [1]
  1. FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
We present a new application of the well-known Hanle effect: the determination of predissociation lifetimes of nonradiating states. A magnetic field depolarizes the angular distribution of the fragments; the degree of depolarization at a fixed field depends on the lifetime of the predissociating state. A semiclassical model is presented to derive lifetimes of predissociative diatomic molecules from the measured angular distributions. This application can be used for lifetime determination of a new class of excited states, predissociative states, in this study represented by the e{sup 1}{Pi}{sub u} (v=0) Rydberg state of N{sub 2} . {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
OSTI ID:
550582
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 79; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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