Primary Processes in the Photolysis of Nitrous Oxide

Abstract

From measurements of the isotopic composition of the product nitrogen arising from the photolysis at 2288, 2139, and 1849 Å of gaseous N2O containing ∼ 1% 15NO, it is shown that at all three wavelengths the primary production of N atoms is unimportant, representing less than 1% of the primary production of molecular N2. Taken in conjunction with other observations made in this laboratory these results indicate that at 2139 Å, and perhaps at all wavelengths in the region 1800–2300 Å, the decomposition to N 2 + O ( 1 D 2 ) is the sole primary photolytic step of importance in the photolysis of N2O.