title: Multipass millimeter/submillimeter spectrometer to probe dissociative reaction dynamics.
abstract: We present here the instrument design and first experimental results from a multipass millimeter/submillimeter spectrometer designed to probe dissociative reaction dynamics. This work focuses on benchmarking the instrument performance through detection of the CH3O and H2CO products from methanol dissociation induced by a high-voltage plasma discharge. Multiple rotational lines from CH3O and H2CO were observed when this plasma discharge was applied to a sample of methanol vapor seeded in an argon supersonic expansion. The rotational temperature of the dissociation products and their abundance with respect to methanol were determined using a Boltzmann analysis. The minimum detectable absorption coefficient for this instrument was determined to be αmin ≤ 5 × 10(-9) cm(-1). We discuss these results in the context of future applications of this instrument to the study of photodissociation branching ratios for small organic molecules that are important in complex interstellar chemistry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.
authors.forename: Jacob C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Laas
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Hays
authors.forename: Susanna L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Widicus Weaver