Communication: Photodissociation of N2O—Frustrated NN bond breaking causes diffuse vibrational structures

The photodissociation of N2O is studied by wave packet calculations using a global three-dimensional potential energy surface for the first excited A1′ state. It is shown that the weak vibrational structures of the absorption cross section are caused by large-amplitude NN stretch motion, combined with strong excitation of the bend as well as the O–NN stretch. Weakening of the NN bond toward the N+NO channel is the necessary prerequisite.