Time-resolved LMR study on the reactions of Cl atoms in the ground (²P _{3 2}) and excited (²P _{1 2}) spin-orbital states with ClNO

ClNO photolysis by the third (354 nm) and fourth (266 nm) harmonics of a Nd:YAG laser has been shown to result in population inversion of the Cl fine structure levels. The rate constant of Cl(²P _{3 2}) + ClNO → Cl₂ + NO has been determined to equal (7.7 ± 1.7) × 10^-11 cm³/s, with the photolysis of Cl₂ (354 nm), S₂Cl₂ (266 nm) and ICl (530 nm) as a source of Cl(²P _{3 2}). The reactivity of Cl(²P _{1 2}) has been shown to be much lower than that of Cl(²P _{3 2}). The deactivation (relaxation + reaction) rate constant of Cl(²P _{1 2}) has been determined to equal (1.8 ± 0.4) × 10^-11 cm³/s, the photolysis of ICl (530 nm) and ClNO (354; 266 nm) used as a source of Cl(²P _{1 2}). All results were obtained at a temperature of 298 ± 5 K.