Vibrational Nonlocal Thermodynamic Equilibrium Effects of Relevance to Stratospheric Ozone

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This proposal involves the study of the state resolved kinetics of the vibrational relaxation of O2 and NO. The PI postulates that the breakdown of the local thermodynamic equilibrium assumption in regard to the vibrational distributions of O2 and NO in the stratosphere necessitates state specific laboratory studies in order to fully understand ozone formation and destruction. The P.I. will clarify the importance of Slanger's ozone formation mechanism via quantitative measurements of the relaxation of vibrational states in O2 using a tunable Argon fluoride laser to access high vibrational levels. Noting the importance of NO as a stratospheric catalyst of ozone destruction, the PI will also investigate the initial vibrational excitation of NO resulting from reaction of NO2 with O(3P) and to perform state-to-state studies of vibrational relaxation at high total energies.