Abstract

Employing detection systems with subnanosecond rise times, we have studied^1-4 nonlinear UV excitation (266 nm, photon fluence ~10¹⁹ cm⁻²) and subsequent fragmentation of a number of molecular species through the development of emissive products, especially CN B and C₂ d (significant also are NH A and CH A,C). Digitally accumulated waveforms of emission afford temporal signatures of a variety of distinct processes. With 0.4-nm resolution, we obtain information on the time dependence of vibrational distributions and even some rotational information. Further, isotopically labeled parent materials enable us to distinguish processes in which atoms are contributed by different parent molecules and to identify isomerization.

© 1984 Optical Society of America