LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE A2A1-X2E TRANSITION OF TRIFLUOROMETHOXY RADICAL

The first observation of the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum of trifluoromethoxy radical, CF3O, is reported. The radical is produced by infrared multiple photon dissociation of CF3OOCF3. The origin of the A approximately 2A1-X approximately 2E transition is found to lie at 351.15 nm. Combination bands associated with an interval of almost-equal-to 640 cm-1 are observed. The dispersed fluorescence spectrum has also been measured following excitation at 351.15 nm. The dispersed fluorescence spectrum displayed a progression associated with an almost-equal-to 1241 cm-1 interval, which is consistent with the CO stretching frequency of ground state CF3O predicted by ab initio MO predictions. The lifetime of the excited state is measured to be 30.1 ns.