Laser enhanced chemical reaction studies
Abstract
Experimental studies of dynamic molecular processes are described with particular emphasis on the use of a powerful infrared diode laser probe technique developed in our laboratory. This technique allows us to determine the final states of CO2 (and other molecules) produced by collisions, photofragmentation, or chemical reactions with a spectral resolution of 0.0003 cm(exp -1) and a time resolution of 10(exp -7) sec. Such high spectral resolution provides a detailed picture of the vibrational and rotational states of molecules produced by these dynamic events. We have used this experimental method to probe collisions between hot hydrogen/deuterium atoms and CO2, between O(D-1) atoms and CO2, to study the final states of DCl molecules produced as a result of the reactions of hot Cl atoms, and to investigate the dynamics of the reaction between OH and CO molecules. Advances in our technique over the past two years have allowed us to identify and study more than 200 final rotational states in ten different vibrational levels of CO2 encompassing all 3 normal modes, many overtones, and combination states of the molecule. We have extended the technique to probe a variety of new molecules such as OCS, N2O, DCl, CS2 and Cl atoms (via the (sup 2)P(sub 3/2) yields (sup 2)P(sub 1/2) atomic transition). All of this work is aimed at providing experimental tests for polyatomic molecule potential energy surfaces, chemical transition states in complex systems, and theories of reaction dynamics in molecules with more than 3 atoms. We hope through these experiments to provide dynamical and mechanistic information of fundamental interest for combustion and atmospheric reaction processes.
- Publication:
-
Unknown
- Pub Date:
- December 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990lecr.rept.....F
- Keywords:
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- Chemical Reactions;
- Electron Transitions;
- Hot Atoms;
- Infrared Lasers;
- Laser Applications;
- Molecular Energy Levels;
- Molecular Excitation;
- Particle Collisions;
- Polyatomic Molecules;
- Absorption Spectra;
- Carbon Dioxide;
- Chlorine Compounds;
- Combustion Physics;
- Complex Systems;
- Nitrogen Oxides;
- Potential Energy;
- Spectral Resolution;
- Temporal Resolution;
- Vibrational Spectra;
- Lasers and Masers