Double Resonance and Energy Transfer in Sulfur Hexafluoride

Abstract

Since the discovery of multiple infrared photon dissociation of SF₆ and other molecules, by AMBARTZUMYAN [1] and other investigators [2], a great deal of effort has gone into an attempt to understand the mechanism of this process. Theoretical models have been proposed by BLOEMBERGEN [3], LARSEN [4], and others [5]. A principal question in these models is, how the absorption proceeds up through the vibrational manifold--that is, the time-and frequency-dependent distribution of dipole strength in laser-pumped SF₆ or other molecules. Another question of interest is the effect of collisional redistribution of vibrational energy on the dissociation process. Although it seems clear that the process occurs most efficiently under collision-free conditions, knowledge of the effect of relaxations would be helpful in scaling potentially useful multiphoton laser-induced reactions to higher pressures.