title: Femtosecond predissociation dynamics of the methyl radical from the 3p(z) Rydberg state.
abstract: The real time dynamics of electronic predissociation of the CH3 radical (and its deuterated variant CD3) from selected vibrational states of the 3pz Rydberg state have been measured for the first time using a novel methodology based on a femtosecond three-color experiment to generate, two-photon excite and ionize methyl radicals as a function of time in combination with velocity map imaging detection. Subpicosecond lifetimes have been measured, showing a decreasing trend as vibrational excitation in the symmetric stretch and bending umbrella modes increases for both species. High-level ab initio calculations have been carried out in order to elucidate the CH3 3pz predissociation mechanism and support the lifetime measurements. The observed lifetimes are relevant for the understanding of the resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy of this radical.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Unidad Asociada I+D+i CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain. lbanares@ucm.es.
authors.forename: Garikoitz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balerdi
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woodhouse
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanchet
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Nalda
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Senent
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Vela
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bañares