The Lamb-dip spectrum of phosphine: The nuclear hyperfine structure due to hydrogen and phosphorus

For the first time, the hyperfine structure of the rotational J = 1 ← 0 (K = 0) and J = 2 ← 1 (K = 0, 1) transitions of phosphine has been resolved by using microwave spectroscopy. To this purpose, the Lamb-dip technique has been employed. In addition, the J = 3 ← 2 (K = 0, 1, 2) transition has been recorded at Doppler resolution. The present investigation allowed us to provide accurate values for most of the hyperfine constants as well as ground state rotational parameters.     

Improved ground state rotational parameters of deuterium fluoride, DF

The rotational spectrum of DF in the 1.3-3.3 THz frequency region has been observed by means of a tunable far-infrared spectrometer. The J + 1 ← J, with J = 1-4, rotational transitions of DF have been recorded with an accuracy of the order of 50-200 kHz. These measurements, in conjunction with the hyperfine components of the J = 1 ← 0 transition recently observed [Cazzoli and Puzzarini, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 231 (2005) 124-130] and the rotational transitions up to J = 47 [R.S. Ram, Z. Morbi, B. Guo, K.-Q. Zhang, P.F. Bernath, J. Vander Auwera, J.W.C. Johns, S.P. Davies, Astrophys. J. Suppl. Series 103 (1996) 247-254] consented to improve the ground state rotational parameters of DF.     

Sub-Doppler and Doppler spectroscopy of DCN isotopomers in the terahertz region: ground and first excited bending states (v1v2v3)=(0 1 0)

The rotational spectra of the deuterium cyanide isotopic species DCN, D¹³CN, DC¹⁵N, and D¹³C¹⁵N were recorded in the vibrational ground and first excited bending state (v₂=1) up to 2 THz. The R-branch transitions from J=3←2 to J=13←12 were measured with sub-Doppler resolution. These very high resolution (∼70 kHz) and precise (±3-10 kHz) saturation dip measurements allowed for resolving the underlying hyperfine structure due to the ¹⁴N nucleus in DCN and D¹³CN for transitions as high as J=10←9. Additional high JR-branch (J=25←24 to J=28←27) transitions around 2 THz and direct l-type (ΔJ=0, J=19 to J=25) transitions from 66 to 118 GHz were recorded in Doppler-limited resolution. For the ground state of D¹³C¹⁵N, the J=1←0 transition was measured for the first time. The transition frequency accuracies for the other deuterated species were significantly improved. These new experimental data, together with the available infrared rovibrational data and previously measured direct l-type transitions, were subjected to a global least squares analysis for each isotopomer. This yielded precise sets of molecular constants for the ground and first excited vibrational states, including the nuclear quadrupole and magnetic spin-rotation coupling constants of the ¹⁴N nucleus for DCN and D¹³CN. The hyperfine structure due to the D, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N nuclei have not been resolved, but led to a broadening of the observed saturation dips.     

The rotational spectrum of the ground state of methylamine

Recent progress is reported in measuring, assigning, and fitting the rotational spectrum of the ground vibrational state of methylamine, CH₃NH₂, a spectrum complicated both by internal rotation of the methyl top and by inversion of the amino group. New measurements of 513 rotational transitions with J up to 30 and K up to 9 were carried out between 49 and 326 GHz using the millimeter-wave spectrometer in Kharkov. After removing the observed quadrupole hyperfine splittings, these new data along with previously published measurements were fitted to a group-theoretical high-barrier tunneling Hamiltonian from the literature, using 53 parameters to give an overall weighted standard deviation of 0.80 for 850 far-infrared and 673 microwave transitions in the ground state. The root-mean-square deviation of 0.018 MHz obtained for 346 millimeter-wave transitions measured with 0.020 MHz uncertainty represents an approximately 30-fold improvement in fitting accuracy over past attempts.     

Doppler-limited rotational spectrum of the NH radical in the 2 THz region

The Doppler-limited rotational spectrum of the NH radical in its electronic (X) and vibrational ground state has been measured using the frequency stabilized Cologne side-band spectrometer in the frequency region near 2 THz. The nitrogen ¹⁴N nuclear hyperfine patterns have been observed accompanying the resolved fine (J^′←J″) structure of the N=2←1 rotational transition. The observed peak frequencies were analyzed in detail together with the previously measured hyperfine frequencies of the N=1←0 rotational transition and with combination differences obtained from the high-resolution electronic spectra to derive precise rotational, centrifugal distortion, fine, and hyperfine parameters. In the numerical analysis the essential attention has been paid to partly resolved and unresolved hyperfine structures. The peak positions of the partly or fully overlapped lines were analyzed with the help of a profile simulation with estimated half-widths and calculated relative intensities and in this manner the least square fit of the unresolved and partly resolved lines was significantly improved. The NH radical is an extremely important species in nitrogen chemical reaction networks in the interstellar medium and atmospheric chemistry.     

The v10=1 Level of Propyne, H3CCCH, and Its Interactions with v9=1 and v10=2

Almost 300 new rotational transitions within the fundamental vibrational level v₁₀=1 of propyne have been measured in selected regions between 495 and 925 GHz spanning the quantum numbers 28≤J≤54 and 0≤K≤16. The accuracies are mostly between 10 and 20 kHz. In addition, the J″=4 and 5 transitions near 85 and 103 GHz have been remeasured. Simultaneous analyses with refined rovibrational data have been performed, showing that even this lowest and seemingly isolated vibrational level needs a global treatment when high K transitions are involved. The global model with the v₁₀=1 level coupled to the next higher cluster of levels, v₁₀=2/v₉=1, by Fermi and Coriolis resonances is necessary for a quantitative reproduction of both the rovibrational and rotational data within their experimental uncertainties. Included are also improved ground state spectroscopic parameters from a fit of previous pure rotational data and Δk=3 ground state combination loops as well as additional data obtained in course of the present study.     

Millimeter-wave spectrum of 2,3-difluorobenzonitrile and ab initio DFT calculations

The ground vibrational state rotational spectrum of 2,3-difluorobenzonitrile has been reinvestigated in the frequency range 40.0-99.0 GHz. High J and K₋₁ (J ? 62 and K₋₁ ? 20) transitions have been measured and analyzed to determine accurate rotational and centrifugal distortion constants. Finally, the experimental values were compared with the corresponding values computed at the DFT-B3PW91/6-31g(d,p) level of theory. A very good agreement has been found.     

Ground state parameters of BiH3 from infrared and millimeter-wave spectra: ground state and equilibrium structures

Unstable, short-lived BiH₃ has been synthesized and investigated by rotational spectroscopy in the range 158 (J=1-0) to 1280 GHz (J=8-7). Quadrupole and spin-rotation hyperfine structures (eQq=584.676(96) MHz), and the A₁A₂ splitting of the K=3 ground state level, have been resolved. By merging the pure rotational data with 1764 ground state combination differences obtained from the analysis of high resolution Fourier transform infrared spectra of the ν₁-ν₄ bands [J. Mol. Spectrosc. (2004) (in press)] spanning J and K values up to 16 and 14, respectively, with 0?ΔK?9, the ground state rotational and centrifugal distortion constants up to octic and sextic terms for reductions A and B, respectively, have been determined. Of the reductions of the ground state rovibrational Hamiltonian, reduction B including ε rather than h₃ as off-diagonal element is clearly favored. An experimental r₀ structure of the very-near spherical oblate symmetric top BiH₃, r(BiH)=178.82 pm and α(HBiH)=90.320°, has been deduced from the rotational constants B₀=2.64160172(18) and C₀=2.6010403(31) cm⁻¹. The derived experimental r_e structure, r_e(BiH)=177.834(50) pm and α_e(HBiH)=90.321(10)°, was determined. This is in excellent agreement with the most recent ab initio structure, r_e(BiH)=177.84 pm, and α_e(HBiH)=90.12°.     

The rotational spectra of the υ8 = υ9 = 1 and υ6 = υ7 = 1 interacting vibrational states of nitric acid (HNO3)

The analysis of the rotational spectrum of HNO₃ has been extended to include the υ₈ = υ₉ = 1 state at 1205.7 cm⁻¹ and the υ₆ = υ₇ = 1 state at 1223.4 cm⁻¹. Based on 78-519 GHz data, the assignments in the 8¹9¹ vibrational state have been significantly expanded from the previously reported microwave measurements [T.M. Goyette, F.C. De Lucia, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 139 (1990) 241-243]. A new microwave analysis is also reported for the 6¹7¹ vibrational state. A simultaneous analysis takes into account the localized ΔK_a = ±2 Fermi resonances between the vibrational states, describes the torsional splitting of 3.3 and 1.4 MHz for the 8¹9¹ and 6¹7¹ states respectively, and fits to experimental accuracy over 1500 rotational transition frequencies that extend up to J = 59. Infrared energy levels [A. Perrin, J.-M. Flaud, F. Keller, A. Goldman, R. D. Blatherwick, F. J. Murcray, C. P. Rinsland, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 194 (1999) 113-123] were also included in the analysis and fit to experimental accuracy. Measurement of strongly perturbed transitions in each vibrational state provide a determination of the band origin difference of 17.733184(17) cm⁻¹. The rotational constants agree well with those predicted by vibrational-rotational constants of the fundamental modes. Furthermore, the analysis will provide a very accurate simulation of the infrared spectrum of HNO₃ in the 8.3 μm region.     

Accurate rotational spectroscopy of sulfur dioxide, SO2, in its ground vibrational and first excited bending states, v2 = 0, 1, up to 2 THz

Approximately 150 pure rotational transitions each have been recorded for SO₂, v₂ = 0 and 1, in selected frequency regions up to 2 THz. The J and K_a quantum numbers reach very high values: 92 and 23, respectively, for the ground vibrational state and 81 and 21, respectively, for the first excited bending state. The highest levels accessed are almost 3000 cm⁻¹ above ground. The relative experimental uncertainties Δν/ν are about 10⁻⁸ for several medium to strong, isolated lines, and generally better than 2.5 × 10⁻⁷. Improved spectroscopic parameters have been obtained for both states, particularly for the excited bending state. In fact, the accuracies with which the energy levels of the v₂ = 1 state are known depend essentially only on the accuracy with which the vibrational spacing is known from infrared spectroscopy.     

The Lamb-dip spectrum of the J = 1 ← 0 transition of DF: Crossing resonances and hyperfine components

The Lamb-dip technique has been applied to the observation of the J = 1 ← 0 transition of DF: for the first time, the hyperfine structure due to D and F have been resolved by using microwave spectroscopy. The high accuracy of this technique allows us to provide hyperfine parameters that are in very good agreement with those obtained from molecular beam experiment. In addition, our frequencies together with the unresolved ones up to J″ value of 47 allow us to provide the most accurate ground state rotational constants of DF known at the moment. Furthermore, due to the presence of a relevant number of strong crossing resonances, the J = 1 ← 0 transition of DF can be considered an illustrative case to show how they modify the shape of Lamb-dip spectra.     

A new joint analysis of the ground and first excited torsional states of methylformate

A global fit within experimental accuracy of microwave rotational transitions in the ground and first excited torsional states (v_t = 0 and 1) of methylformate (HCOOCH₃) is reported, which combines older measurements from the literature with new measurements from Kharkov. In this study the so-called ‘‘rho axis method’’ that treats simultaneously both A and E species of the ground and first excited torsional states is used. The final fit requires 55 parameters to achieve an overall unitless weighted standard deviation of 0.71 for a total of 10533 transitions (corresponding to 9298 measured lines) with rotational quantum numbers up to J ? 62 and K_a ? 26 in the ground state and J ? 35 and K_a ? 23 in the first excited torsional state. These results represent a significant improvement over past fitting attempts, providing for the first time a fit within experimental accuracy of both ground and first excited torsional states.     

Analysis of the rotational spectrum of pyruvonitrile up to 324 GHz

The room-temperature rotational spectrum of pyruvonitrile (acetyl cyanide, CH₃COCN) was measured up to 324 GHz, and additional measurements were also made in supersonic expansion in the region 7-19 GHz. The available data sets for the A and E torsional sublevels were extended to over 1200 transitions, J = 65 and K_a = 38 for the ground vibrational state, and to comparable numbers of transitions for first excited states of the methyl torsional mode ν₁₈, and the in-plane CCN bending mode ν₁₂. The collected experimental measurements were fitted with several different computer programs for dealing with the effects of methyl torsional motion on the rotational spectrum and many spectroscopic constants have been determined. The experimental results are discussed in detail and are augmented by ab initio computations. Stark effect measurements in supersonic expansion were used to precisely determine the electric dipole moment of pyruvonitrile, ∣μ_a∣ = 2.462(2) D, ∣μ_b∣ = 2.442(2) D, μ_tot = 3.468(2) D. Pyruvonitrile, as an 8-atom molecule with a sizable dipole moment, is a possible candidate for astrophysical detection and the present work provides the laboratory data necessary for that purpose.     

The millimeter-wave spectrum of perdeuterated methanol, CD3OD

In order to provide accurate rest frequencies for astronomical searches, the spectrum of perdeuterated methanol, CD₃OD, has been measured in the frequency range 62-233 GHz. A total of 379 lines was measured from rotational states up to J=20 and K=10 within the ground and first excited torsional states (v_t=0 and 1). Using a one-dimensional torsion-rotation Hamiltonian, the lines were fitted to measurement accuracy (<30 kHz).     

Hyperfine structure of the J=1←0 transition of HCl and HCl: improved ground state parameters

The pure rotational J=1←0 transitions of H³⁵Cl and H³⁷Cl have been observed in the millimeter-wave region using the Lamb-dip technique to resolve the hyperfine structure due to ³⁵Cl or ³⁷Cl and H. The present observations allow to provide not only very accurate hyperfine constants but also, joint together with previous data, the most accurate ground state rotational parameters known up to now. The experimental determination of the hyperfine parameters has also been supported by ab initio computations.     

Rotational spectrum of the v11 = 1 and v14 = 1 vibrational states of CH3CCCCH

The pure rotational spectra of the v₁₁ = 1 and v₁₄ = 1 vibrational states of the main isotopic species of methyldiacetylene have been recorded and assigned in the 80-400 GHz frequency range, spanning the quantum numbers 19 ? J ? 95 and 0 ? K ? 15. The present study allows us to provide accurate rotational, centrifugal distortion and vibration-rotation interaction constants. The experimental investigation has been strongly supported by quantum-chemical computations at the second-order Møller-Plesset theory (MP2) in conjunction with a triple-zeta quality basis set.     

A Fabry-Perót type resonator tunable below 2 GHz for use in time domain rotational spectroscopy: Application to the measurement of the radio frequency spectra of bromobenzene and iodobenzene

Two aluminum mirrors with radii of 203.2 mm and radii of curvature also of 203.2 mm have been used to construct a tunable Fabry-Perót type resonator with Q values of ∼200 at frequencies as low as 500 MHz. The resonator has been incorporated into a pulsed nozzle, Fourier transform, Balle-Flygare spectrometer typically used for recording pure rotational spectra in the microwave region. The resonator design allows the instrument to access the radio frequency region (?3 GHz) of the electromagnetic spectrum. The spectrometer is of use in (i) recording low J transitions of large asymmetric molecules where the spectra are often greatly simplified compared to higher frequency regions; (ii) measuring hyperfine constants for heavy molecules with higher accuracy than may be obtained at higher frequencies where hyperfine structure may not be resolvable; and (iii) provides further synchronicity between laboratory based measurements and radio astronomy in the 30 cm region. The resonators use is illustrated by recording the rotational spectra of bromobenzene and iodobenzene. The lowest ΔJ = +1 transition for iodobenzene has been observed at 1130.5292(10) MHz.     

Centrifugal distortion analysis of the millimeter-wave spectrum of 2-fluorobenzonitrile and ab initio DFT calculations

The ground state (ν = 0) rotational spectrum of 2-fluorobenzonitrile has been reinvestigated in the frequency range 40.0-99.0 GHz. The millimeter-wave spectrometer used is a source-modulated system combined with a free space glass cell. Millimeter-wave radiation has been produced using a Gunn diode and frequency doubler combination. High J and K₋₁ (J ? 49 and K₋₁ ? 18) transitions have been measured and accurate rotational and centrifugal distortion constants have been determined. Finally, the experimental values were compared with the corresponding values calculated at the HF/DFT-B3PW91/6-31g(d,p) level of theory. A very good agreement has been found.     

Velocity modulation spectroscopy of molecular ions II: The millimeter/submillimeter-wave spectrum of TiF (XΦr)

The pure rotational spectrum of the molecular ion TiF⁺ in its ³Φ_r ground state has been measured in the range 327-542 GHz using millimeter-wave direct absorption techniques combined with velocity modulation spectroscopy. TiF⁺ was made in an AC discharge from a mixture of TiCl₄, F₂ in He, and argon. Ten transitions of this ion were recorded. In every transition, fluorine hyperfine interactions, as well as the fine structure splittings, were resolved. The fine structure pattern was found to be regular with almost equal spacing in frequency between the three spin components, in contrast to TiCl⁺, which is perturbed in the ground state. The data were fit with a case (a) Hamiltonian and rotational, fine structure, and hyperfine constants were determined. The bond length established for TiF⁺, r₀ = 1.7775 Å, was found to be shorter than that of TiF, r₀ = 1.8342 Å—also established from mm-wave data. The hyperfine parameters determined are consistent with a δ¹π¹ electron configuration with the electrons primarily located on the titanium nucleus. The nuclear spin-orbit constant a indicates that the unpaired electrons are closer to the fluorine nucleus in TiF⁺ relative to TiF, as expected with the decrease in bond length for the ion. The shorter bond distance is thought to arise from increased charge on the titanium nucleus as a result of a Ti²⁺F⁻ configuration. A similar decrease in bond length was found for TiCl⁺ relative to TiCl.     

Submillimeter-wave spectroscopy of VN (XΔr) and VO (XΣ): A study of the hyperfine interactions

The pure rotational spectra of VN (X³Δ_r) and VO (X⁴Σ⁻) have been recorded in the frequency range 290-520 GHz using direct absorption spectroscopy. These radicals were synthesized in the gas-phase from the reaction of VCl₄ with either N₂ or H₂O in an AC discharge. Seven rotational transitions were recorded for each molecule; in both sets of spectra, fine and hyperfine structures were resolved. The data sets for VN and VO were fit with Hund’s case (a) and case (b) Hamiltonians, respectively, and rotational, fine structure, and hyperfine constants determined. For VN, however, an additional hyperfine parameter, Δa, was necessary for the analysis of the Ω = 2 sublevel to account for perturbations from a nearby ¹Δ state, in addition to the usual Frosch and Foley constants. Determination of Δa suggests that the ¹Δ state lies ∼3000 cm⁻¹ above the ground state. In VO, the hyperfine structure in the F₂ and F₃ components was found to become heavily mixed due to an avoided crossing, predicted by previous optical studies to be near the N = 15 level. The hyperfine constants established for these two molecules are consistent with the proposed σ¹δ¹ and σ¹δ² electron configurations.