Reaction dynamics and molecular spectroscopy via high resolution laser techniques

Laser techniques are used to enlarge the range of application of crossed-beam experiments and to increase their resolution, via excitation of atomic/molecular reagents on well-defined quantum states and characterization of reaction products by L.I.F. and R.E.M.P.I. Detailed applications are described in die case of the Cs + H-2 --> CsH + H photochemical reaction for which a complete set of experimental data was obtained and interpreted by quasi-classical trajectories. To apply these techniques precise spectroscopic data are required, which are obtained from high resolution, Doppler-free beam experiments. In turn, reaction dynamics experiments provide out-of-equilibrium light sources which can be used to extend spectroscopic analyses. It is shown how the high resolution study of the TiO molecule leads to a new description of its electronic structure.