Internal-state distribution and polarization in nascent NO X2Π from the photodissociation of C6H5NO

The 266 nm photodissociation of gaseous C6H5NO has been studied by monitoring the nascent NO (X2Π v″=0–3) product using the single-photon laser-induced fluorescence technique. The rotational-state distributions of the nascent NO photofragment have been measured and can be characterized by Bolzmann temperatures. The vibrational-state and Λ-doublet populations were also determined. Energy disposal into the internal degrees of freedom of NO (X2Π) photofragment is about 18% of the total available energy. Some planarity in the fragmentation process was observed.