Photodissociation of vibrationally excited ammonia: Rotational excitation in the NH2 product

Vibrationally mediated photodissociation combined with H Rydberg atom photofragment translational spectroscopy reveals the state-to-state photofragmentation dynamics of selected parent rovibronic levels of à 1A2″ state ammonia. Analysis of the time-of-flight spectra determines the population of quantum states in the NH2 partner fragment for dissociation from the excited state bending vibration (41). Dissociation from the bending state produces rotationally excited NH2 predominantly (≈75%) in its ground vibrational state, in agreement with theoretical predictions.