Laser fluorescence of NH2 and rate constant measurement of NH2 + NO

Abstract Laser induced fluorescence from the A 2 A 1 state of the NH 2 radical, obtained by different methods, has been observed with a tunable cw dye laser as excitation source. Using pulsed photolysis of NH 3 to produce NH 2 , the fluorescence technique has been employed in a first gas kinetic application to measure the rate constant of the aeronomically interesting NH 2 + NO reaction at 298 K. A value of (2.1 ± 0.2) × 10 -11 cm 3 molecule -1 s -1 has been obtained.