Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.117, No.3, 1055-1067, 2002
Photoionization dynamics of the B E-1'' state of ammonia
Two-photon excitation was used to excite a number of vibronic bands within the B E-1(') state of ammonia, including a number of combination bands involving the umbrella mode, nu(2), and the asymmetric bend, nu(4). Photoelectron spectra following single-photon ionization of these levels by the same laser provide insight into the character of the intermediate levels, and resolve questions raised by previous photoelectron studies via the B E-1(') state. Two-color double-resonance spectra were also recorded via selected rotational levels of the B E-1(') 2(3)4(1) state. These spectra show complex series of resonances that appear to converge to the X (2)A(2)(') 2(3)4(1) state of the ion. Photoelectron spectra for a large number of these resonances show that Deltav(2)=-1 and Deltav(4)=-1 processes dominate, but that the branching between the two processes depends strongly on the specific resonance.