Abstract

Tunable narrow bandwidth VUV radiation in the spectral region from 190 - 200 nm was generated by resonant sumfrequency mixing of two flashlamp pumped dye lasers. This radiation was used to excite individual rotational vibrational levels of different electronic states of the NO molecule. Using a multiple reflection cell the effective quantum efficiency was raised and the subsequent fluorescence radiation was spectrally resolved by means of a 1m VUV grating monochromator. This technique allowed a direct measurement of the Franck-Condon factors for the different observed transitions. The measured values show significant discrepancies with calculations of Spindler et al./1/ neglecting the R-dependence of the electronic transition moment.

© 1982 Optical Society of America