Vibrational emission by NO2 in reaction of nitric oxide with ozone

Abstract

Vibration-rotation emission associated with the transitions Δv₃=–1, Δv₁=Δv₃=–1 and Δv₁=–2, Δv₃=–1 of NO₂ is observed from the reaction NO + O₃= NO₂+ O₂, a reaction which also yields electronically excited NO₂. The vibrationally excited molecules are produced predominantly by radiation and collisional quenching of electronically excited NO₂ followed by rapid redistribution of vibrational energy rather than by direct population of high vibrational levels of the ground state.