Quantum yield of Cl<SUP>&#8727;</SUP> (<SUP>2</SUP>P<SUB>&#189;</SUB>) production in the gas phase photolysis of CCl<SUB>4</SUB> in the ultraviolet

In this paper, we have probed the dynamics of chlorine atom production from the gas phase photodissociation of carbon tetrachloride at 222 and 235 nm. The quantum yield, &#966;&#8727; of Cl&#8727; (2P&#189;) production has been determined by probing the nascent concentrations of both excited (2P&#189;) and ground state (2P3/2) chlorine atoms by suitable resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) detection schemes. Although at the photolysis wavelengths the absorption of carbon tetrachloride is weak, significant amounts of Cl&#8727; are produced. Surprisingly, the quantum yield of Cl&#8727; production does not follow the absorption spectrum closely, which gives rise to the possibility of an indirect dissociation mechanism present in CCl4 along with direct dissociation at these ultraviolet wavelengths