Abstract

We have used a molecular-beam photoionization technique to probe the vibrational-energy distribution of SF₆ molecules excited by an intense CO₂ laser at energy fluences close to and below the dissociation threshold. We observe a significant bottleneck at low laser intensities. Even at laser fluences close to the dissociation threshold, most of the molecules remain in the discrete levels, and only a small fraction (~10–25%) are excited into the quasi-continuum.

© 1979 Optical Society of America

Optoacoustic studies of two-frequency infrared-laser pumping of SF₆

G. P. Quigley
Opt. Lett. 4(3) 84-86 (1979)

Effects of molecular rotation and vibration–rotation interaction on collisionless multiple-photon excitation of SF₆

C. D. Cantrell and K. Fox
Opt. Lett. 2(6) 151-153 (1978)

Interferometric studies of nonlinear relaxation processes in vibrationally highly excited SF₆ molecules

Cheng-Zhi Pan, R. Bruzzese, S. Solimeno, and R. Velotta
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 4(4) 452-461 (1987)

Calculation of the temperature dependence of the multiphoton absorption spectrum of SF₆

H. W. Galbraith and J. R. Ackerhalt
Opt. Lett. 3(3) 109-111 (1978)

Multiple-photon absorption of 16-μm radiation in UF₆ at 300 K

R. A. Lucht, J. S. Beardall, R. C. Kennedy, G. W. Sullivan, and J. P. Rink
Opt. Lett. 4(7) 216-218 (1979)