VACUUM UV ABSORPTION AND EXCITATION-SPECTRA OF N2H4

The vacuum UV (lambda > 105 nm) absorption spectrum of N2H4 was reinvestigated in the light of recent ab initio calculations of vertical excitation energies and transition dipole moments. At the same time, fluorescence excitation spectra were measured to study the formation of excited radicals in this wavelength region. Weak formation of NH(A) at short wavelengths and, most probably, NH2(approximately A2A1) over a wide wavelength range were observed. Both excited species are believed to be generated by direct photodissociation.