The vibrational distribution of O2(X 3Σg-) produced in the photodissociation of ozone between 226 and 240 and at 266 nm

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization coupled with time-of-flight product imaging has been used to study the O-3(X (1)A(1))+h nu --> O(2p P-3(J))+O-2(X (3)Sigma(g)(-)) product channel in the UV (ultraviolet) photodissociation of ozone at photolysis wavelengths of 226, 230, 233, 234, 240, and 266 nm. These imaging experiments, together with a measurement of the branching ratio into the different spin orbit states of the O atom, allowed the determination of the yields of the O-2 product in vibrational states greater than or equal to 26 as a function of wavelength. It was found that at 226, 230, 233, 234, and 240 nm, the yield was 11.8 +/- 1.9%, 11.5 +/- 1.2%, 8.2 +/- 2.0%, 4.7 +/- 1.8%, and 0.6 +/- 0.1%, respectively. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)01203-4].