Cross sections for the production of excited products in the photoionization of N₂, O₂, CO, and N₂O by 58.4-nm radiation

Fluorescent radiation caused by the interaction of 58.4-nm radiation with N2, O2, CO, and N2O has been observed spectroscopically between 200 and 750 nm. Products observed were N2+(B²Σ), O2+(b4Σ), CO+(A²Π and B²Σ+) and N2O+(²Σ+) with cross sections of 3.4, 1.4, 4.6, and 0.99, and 6.9 × 10−18 cm², respectively. Absolute cross sections were obtained for each of the electronically excited products by comparison with previously measured yields from CO2. No detectable emission was observed from H2O, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, NO2, or NH3.