Production of a beam of highly vibrationally excited CO using perturbations

Abstract

An intense molecular beam of CO (X[superscript 1]Σ[superscript +]) in high vibrational states (v = 17, 18) was produced by a new approach that we call PUMP – PUMP – PERTURB and DUMP. The basic idea is to access high vibrational states of CO e[superscript 3]Σ[superscript −] via a two-photon doubly resonant transition that is perturbed by the A[superscript 1]PI state. DUMP -ing from this mixed (predominantly triplet) state allows access to high vibrational levels of CO (X[superscript 1]Σ[superscript +]). The success of the approach, which avoids the use of vacuum UV radiation in any of the excitation steps, is proven by laser induced fluorescence and resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization spectroscopy.