Femtosecond transition-state absorption spectroscopy of Bi atoms produced by photodissociation of gaseous Bi₂ molecules

Femtosecond transition-state absorption spectroscopy has been performed on Bi atoms produced by the 308 nm photodissociation of Bi2 molecules contained in bismuth vapor. The transient spectra obtained are all clearly identifiable as atomic, yet they display striking asymmetries in line shapes and enhancements in intensity that clearly demonstrate that they are spectral signatures of atoms still in the force fields of their receding partners. © 1990 American Institute of Physics.