VACUUM-ULTRAVIOLET PHOTOLYSIS OF N2O. .4. DEACTIVATION OF N(2D)

The NO(β) emission (B 2II→X2II) observed during photolysis of N2O at 1470 Å is due to a chemilumines ent reaction between N(2D) and N2O. Transient measurements of this emission are analyzed to give the rate coefficients for removal of N( 2D) by several simple molecules. Photolysis at 1236 Å also produces NO(B 2II), and the decay curves can be analyzed to give the same rate coefficients as observed at 1470 Å, although there is evidence that an additional NO (B 2II) production mechanism is involved. Quench:ng coefficients are also tabulated for N2 (A 3Σ) and O (1S), two other species investigated by the same technique.