RADIATIVE LIFETIME MEASUREMENTS OF VIBRATIONALLY EXCITED-STATES OF NO+(X1-SIGMA+)

The radiative lifetimes of NO+ (X 1-SIGMA+, upsilon = 1, ..., 5) have been measured using an FT/ICR instrument equipped with pulsed valves. NO+ (X 1-SIGMA+, upsilon) is state-selectively formed by REMPI on NO and detected by a state-selective charge-transfer reaction with a neutral monitor gas. Recording the monitor ion signal as a function of the NO+ (X 1-SIGMA+, upsilon) radiative relaxation time yields radiative lifetimes of 90, 49, 30, 25 and 19 ms for upsilon = 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. These results are in good agreement with recent theoretical calculations from several research groups.