Isotopic variation of experimental lifetimes for the lowest Πu1 states of N2

Lifetimes of several (1)Pi(u) states of the three natural isotopomers of molecular nitrogen, (14)N(2), (14)N(15)N, and (15)N(2), are determined via linewidth measurements in the frequency domain. Extreme ultraviolet (XUV)+UV two-photon ionization spectra of the b (1)Pi(u)(v=0-1,5-7) and c(3) (1)Pi(u)(v=0) states of (14)N(2), b (1)Pi(u)(v=0-1,5-6) and c(3) (1)Pi(u)(v=0) states of (14)N(15)N, and b (1)Pi(u)(v=0-7), c(3) (1)Pi(u)(v=0), and o (1)Pi(u)(v=0) states of (15)N(2) are recorded at ultrahigh resolution, using a narrow band tunable XUV-laser source. Lifetimes are derived from the linewidths of single rotationally resolved spectral lines after deconvolution of the instrument function. The observed lifetimes depend on the vibrational quantum number and are found to be strongly isotope dependent.