Abstract
Vibrational levels of nitric oxide (NO) X 2Π from v″=8–24, whose energies vary from 1.76 to 4.61 eV, have been produced using the stimulated emission pumping (SEP) technique. A narrowband tunable argon fluoride laser is used to access the B 2Π state which provides good Franck–Condon overlap with many vibrational levels of the ground electronic state. Saturation of the transitions is achieved at low pulse energies providing high pumping efficiency. Both spin–orbit states of NO are accessible with this scheme. Accurate molecular constants for v″=23 and 24 are given for the first time. The feasibility of an optically pumped infrared laser is discussed.