The 355 nm Photolysis of Methyl Nitrite

Single photon laser induced fluorescence (LIF) has been used to study the NO fragment produced in its ground electronic state from the 355 nm photolysis of CH₃ONO. Populations of rotational, vibrational, spin-orbit and lambda doublet components have been measured. The results are in broad agreement with previous two photon LIF studies, and confirm the dynamics of the process in which the NO fragment departs from an essentially planar CONO framework with non-statistical energy partitioning in the internal states of the products.