Photodissociation of Ozone at 248 nm and Vacuum Ultraviolet Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection of O(1D)

Ozone molecules, O3, were photodissociated in the presence of N2 at 248 nm (KrF laser) to O(1D)+ O2(1∆). The O(1D) atoms were detected by generating vacuum ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence (VUV LIF) for the 3s1D0 -2p 1D transition at 115.2 nm. The 115.2 nm probe laser was generated by frequency tripling (ω vuv=3ω) of the 345.6 nm PTP dye laser in a Xe gas cell.