Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometry With Tunable Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) Synchrotron Radiation
Published on: October 30, 2012
Experimental test of self-shielding in vacuum ultraviolet photodissociation of CO
Subrata Chakraborty1, Musahid Ahmed, Teresa L Jackson
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0356, USA.
Abstract:
Self-shielding of carbon monoxide (CO) within the nebular disk has been proposed as the source of isotopically anomalous oxygen in the solar reservoir and the source of meteoritic oxygen isotopic compositions. A series of CO photodissociation experiments at the Advanced Light Source show that vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photodissociation of CO produces large wavelength-dependent isotopic fractionation. An anomalously enriched atomic oxygen reservoir can thus be generated through CO photodissociation without self-shielding. In the presence of optical self-shielding of VUV light, the fractionation associated with CO dissociation dominates over self-shielding. These results indicate the potential role of photochemistry in early solar system formation and may help in the understanding of oxygen isotopic variations in Genesis solar-wind samples.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Atomization Methods
UV–Vis Spectrometers
UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems
One of the factors influencing λmax is the extent of conjugation in the...
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Lab
Solutions containing organic solvents, such as low-molecular-mass alcohols, esters, or ketones, enhance absorbances by increasing nebulizer...

