Abstract
The inelastic electron-photon delayed coincidence technique has been used to measure the lifetimes of the lower vibronic levels of the A 2 Sigma +, D 2 Sigma + and C 22 Pi electronic levels of the nitric oxide molecule. The values obtained are as follows (in units of 1 ns): A 2 Sigma +, nu =0, 187+or-6; nu =1, 187+or-5; nu =2, 177+or-5; nu =3, 165+or-7; D 2 Sigma +, nu =0, 16.1+or-0.7; nu =1, 15.0+or-0.6; nu =2, 11.9+or-0.5; nu =3, 10.4+or-0.7; C 2 Pi , nu =0, <or=2.7+or-1.5. The time-resolved energy-loss technique is discussed and a spectrum taken in NO is presented.