Infrared laser enhanced reactions: Spectral distribution of the NO2 chemiluminescence produced in the reaction of vibrationally excited O3 with NO

Vibrationally excited ozone, produced by CO2 laser radiation, was found to react significantly faster with NO than does thermal O3. The emission spectrum of the laser enhanced chemiluminescence from this reaction was measured from 520 to 810 nm. The lowest lying 12B2 state was identified as the primary source of NO*2 emission in the NO+O3 reaction. One quantum of vibrational excitation in the reactant O3 was found to introduce one quantum of vibrational energy in the product NO2 (12B2). The rate enhancement of the reaction channel producing NO2(12B2) as a result of vibrational excitation of O3 was 5.6±1.0. Thus, only about 50% of the available vibrational energy is used to enhance this reaction.