Collisional energy transfer of vibrationally highly excited molecules. V. UV absorption study of azulene

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Abstract
Vibrationally highly excited azulene molecules in the electronic ground state (excitation energy 〈E〉=30 600 cm−1) were produced by excitation with a N2 laser. The stepwise deactivation of the excited molecules in collisions with a variety of 23 inert bath gases was monitored by time-resolved hot UV absorption spectroscopy at 290 nm. Using previously determined calibration curves of the absorption coefficient at 290 nm as a function of the excitation energy 〈E〉, energy-loss curves 〈E(t)〉 were recorded and analyzed with respect to the average energies 〈ΔE〉 transferred per collision. The dependencies of 〈ΔE〉 on the excitation energy 〈E〉 were derived. In most cases, 〈ΔE〉 was found to be only weakly dependent on 〈E〉 above 10 000 cm−1, whereas a stronger rise with energy became apparent only at lower energies. A comparison with earlier IR emission experiments on the azulene system is given.