Lifetimes of the lowest triplet state of ozone by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy

Abstract High resolution spectra (0.014 cm −1 ) of O 3 of the highly structured first two members of the Wulf progression in the near-infrared spectral range (9100–10200 cm −1 ) have been measured by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ICLAS). A preliminary analysis of the rotational structure confirmed previous assignments for the lowest excited 3 A 2 (triplet) state. However, the linewidths of the 3 A 2 ← 1 A 1 transitions have been found to be considerably broadend depending upon the J and K rotational quantum number, as well vibrational excitation. The short lifetimes inferred from these linewidths suggest that the rovibrational states of ozone's lowest triplet state are predissociative and not “metastable”.