title: Photo-fragmentation cross-section of gaseous 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene at different ultraviolet wavelengths.
abstract: The photo-fragmentation cross-section of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) vapor at room temperature was determined at different ultraviolet wavelengths (254, 300, 340, and 400 nm) by measuring the concentration of NO molecule with cavity ring down spectroscopy and correcting for the photo-fragmentation cross-section of NO(2). Nitric oxide (NO) molecules are produced by the TNT photo-fragmentation processes via an intermediate production of NO(2). Our results reveal that the photo-fragmentation cross-section of TNT changes appreciably with change in wavelength with xenon arc lamp illumination, increasing with decreasing excitation wavelength. The maximum value of cross-section was observed at the shortest photo-fragmentation wavelength studied (254 nm), which is closest to the wavelength of an absorption peak of TNT near 220 nm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom. Ramesh.Sharma@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ramesh C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Tracy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Usachev
authors.forename: Jagdish P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Fang-Yu
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Yueh
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Monts
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D005740:Gases; D007834:Lasers; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013696:Temperature; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014978:Xenon / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D053834:Explosive Agents; D005740:Gases; D014303:Trinitrotoluene; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014978:Xenon