The Quantum Yield of NF(a) in NF2 Photolysis

Abstract : Koffend, Gardner, and Heidner performed experiments to determine the quantum yield of Nitrogen fluoride (a) in the photolysis of Nitrogen difluoride 2 at 249 nm and the rate coefficient of the combination of Fluorine atoms with NF2 and Argon. Their data analysis was based on a value of 0.91 for the branching fraction of NF(a) produced in the Hydrogen + NF2 reaction. This report shows that the quantum yield can be determined independently of the branching fraction. The fact that the photolysis quantum yield can be determined independently of the branching fraction is important because experiments for measuring the branching fraction can now be designed in which the initial NF(a) fluorescence serves as a calibration of the system for subsequent NF(a) measurements.