Molecular Beam Study of Multiphoton Dissociation of SF6

Abstract

Crossed molecular and C${\mathrm{O}}_2$ laser beams were used to study collisionless multiphoton dissociation of S${\mathrm{F}}_6$. Dissociation products were found to be S${\mathrm{F}}_5$ and F. Angular and velocity distributions of the S${\mathrm{F}}_5$ fragment were measured. The results indicate that the average excess energy absorbed by an S${\mathrm{F}}_6$ molecule beyond the dissociation limit was definitely less than 8000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ and the activation energy for dissociation was less than 70 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{-1\mathrm{}}$.