Multiphoton absorption and dissociation of hexafluoroacetone in a strong infrared CO2 laser field

An investigation was made of the multiphoton absorption and dissociation of the hexafluoroacetone (COC₂F₆) molecule excited by a TEA CO₂ laser. The dissociation threshold was determined as 0.7 J/cm² and the dissociation products were identified. The dependence of the dissociation probability and the average number of absorbed photons per single molecule on the laser radiation energy density were determined. It was found that the multiphoton absorption and dissociation maximum was shifted toward the red by approximately 15 cm^–1 from the linear absorption maximum. The prospects for using hexafluoroacetone for separation of carbon isotopes is discussed.