Energy distribution in the nitric oxide fragments from the ν7 vibrational predissociation of NO–C2H4

The rotational level distribution of the NO fragments formed as a result of the predissociation of the vibrationally excited NO–C2H4 (ν7) van der Waals molecule was measured by laser excited fluorescence techniques. The distribution was found to be Boltzmann in character, described by the rotational temperature 75±15 K. An average kinetic energy release of ≊105 cm−1 per fragment, in an isotropic flux distribution, was determined from Doppler profiles of the NO fragments in selected rotational levels.