Anisotropy Measurements from the Near-Threshold Photodissociation of the N₂-NO Complex

We have used velocity map ion imaging to measure the angular anisotropy of the NO (A) products from the photodissociation of the N₂-NO complex. Our experiment ranged from 108 to 758 cm^-1 above the threshold energy to form NO (A) + N₂ (X) products, and these measurements reveal, for the first time, a strong angular anisotropy from photodissociation. At 108 cm^-1 above the photodissociation threshold, we observed NO (A) photoproducts recoil preferentially perpendicular to the laser polarization axis with an average anisotropy parameter, β = -0.25; however, as the available energy was increased, the anisotropy increased, and at 758 cm^-1 above the threshold energy, we found an average β = +0.28. The observed changes in the angular anisotropy of the NO (A) photoproduct are qualitatively similar to those observed for the photodissociation of the Ar-NO complex and likely result from changes in the region of the excited state potential energy surface accessed during the electronic excitation. At the lowest available energy, we also noted a large contribution from hotband excitation; however, this contribution decreased as the available energy increased. The outsized contribution at the lowest available energy may result from hotbands having better Franck-Condon overlap with the excited electronic state near threshold. Finally, we contrast the experimental center of mass translational energy distribution with a statistical energy distribution determined from phase space theory. The experimental and statistical distributions show pronounced disagreement, particularly at low kinetic energies, with the experimental one showing less dissociation resulting in high rotational levels of the fragments.