ENERGY TRANSFER PATHWAYS FOR $A^{2}\triangle$ CH IN AN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE $FLAME^{\ast}$

$^{\ast}$ Supported by the U.S. Army Research Office, Contract No. DAAG29-80-K-0049.Author Institution: Molecular Physics Department, SRI InternationalVibrational energy transfer (V) and rotational energy transfer (R) within the $A^{2}\triangle$ state of CH has been studied in an atmospheric pressure $CH_{4}/O_{2}$ flame at $\sim 2000 K$. A laser pumps specific $N^{\prime}$ levels in $v^{\prime}=0$ and fluorescence in the (1,0) and (0,0) bands is monitored. Excitation of $N^{\prime}=5 (E_{N} \sim 400 cm^{-1})$ shows a partially rotationally relaxed distribution within $v^{\prime}=0$ and very little $v^{\prime}=1$ emission $(\triangle G \sim 2700 cm^{-1})$; excitation of $N^{\prime}=13 (E_{N} \sim 2500 cm^{-1})$ produces considerable transfer to $v^{\prime}=1$ but less rotational redistribution than for the low rotational level. A more extensive map of relative R, V, and electronic quenching routes as a function of $N^{\prime}$ is in progress