The aΔg→XΣg magnetic dipole transition of S2

Emission spectra of the 0-0 band of the a¹Δ_g→X³Σ⁻_g magnetic dipole transition of S₂ have been observed in the near-infrared spectral region near 4400 cm⁻¹. The S₂ molecules were generated in a fast-flow system by passing S_x or S₂Cl₂ vapor in Ar carrier gas through a microwave discharge and were excited by electronic-to-electronic energy transfer from metastable singlet oxygen O₂(a¹Δ_g). Medium-resolution spectra of the b¹Σ⁺_g→X³Σ⁻_g and a¹Δ_g→X³Σ⁻_g transitions of S₂ were measured with a Fourier-transform spectrometer. By comparing the bandshape of the 0-0 band of the a→X system with a computer simulation calculated with literature data of the rotational constants of the X and a states, the origin of the 0-0 band was determined to be ν₀=4394.25±0.2 cm⁻¹.