Spectroscopy studies of alkoxy radicals as a base for kinetic studies of atmospheric chemistry

Understanding and modeling the alkoxy radicals chemistry in the atmosphere are of crucial importance for environmental chemists. In order to accurately model the alkoxy radicals' atmospheric fate there is a need for a reliable kinetic database of their potential atmospheric reactions. Such a database has to be based on temperature and pressure dependent rate constants. However, the present understanding of alkoxy radical kinetics is built on indirect measurements, and with few exceptions, there are no pressure and temperature dependent studies for tropospheric alkoxy radical reactions.;Spectroscopy is a powerful tool for monitoring the abundance of radicals in direct kinetic measurements. A spectroscopic technique that has demonstrated excellent kinetic utility as well as outstanding spectroscopic utility is Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF). This thesis will present observation of two LIF spectra of larger alkoxy radicals: tert-butoxy and 2-butoxy. The spectrum of 2-butoxy represents the first observation of this radical. A preliminary analysis of both spectra is presented, and the spectroscopic features of these radicals will be explained. In addition, the application of these spectroscopic observations to future kinetic and spectroscopic studies will be discussed. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).