The dissociation of I_2 by O_2(a~1triangle open) is a critical process for the chemical oxygen iodine laser. despite many years of study the dissociation mechanism is not properly understood. Currently accepted models assume that vibrationally excited I_2 is the immediate precursor to atomic I. However, studies of I_2 vibrational relaxation kinetics cast doubt on this assignment. New measurements of quenching rate constants for I_2(A') indicate that electronically excited I_2 is a more likely precursor. A revised kinetic model fo rthe dissociation process is proposed, based on the active participation of electronically excited I_2. Vibrationally excited I_2 remains an important species in this model as the I_2 must be vibrationally excited before the electronically excited states can be accessed. A preliminary rate constant package for the new model is presented.
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