The 355 nm photodissociation of jet-cooled CH₃SNO: Alignment of the NO photofragment

The photodissociation dynamics of jet-cooled methyl thionitrite (CH₃SNO) have been studied using 355 nm polarised laser photolysis and probing of the NO photofragment by polarised laser-induced fluorescence. The alignment A₀⁽²⁾ between the electronic transition dipole moment involved in the absorption of the parent molecule and the rotational angular momentum J of the nascent NO (v?=0 and v?=1) photofragment has been measured as a function of J up to J=44.5. The A₀⁽²⁾ values found are negative and approach the high-J limit confirming that the S₂?S₀ continuum transition of CH₃SNO in the near-UV arises from a p*?p transition to a repulsive excited state.