New light on acetone: a master equation model for gas phase photophysics and photochemistry

This paper presents a unified model of gas phase acetone photophysics and photochemistry that is based on experimental data, which are reviewed and discussed in detail, and a detailed microcanonical master equation formulation. The model accounts for experimental measurements in molecular beams as well as in thermal systems, leads to a new interpretation of some experiments, and reveals a fundamental property of quantum yield measurements that are relevant to atmospheric chemistry. It also furnishes a platform for future theoretical and experimental developments.