The b1Sigma+(b0(+)) --> X3Sigma-(X10(+), X21) and a1Delta(a2) --> X21 Transitions of AsI

Emission spectra of the b1Sigma+(b0(+)) --> X3Sigma-(X10(+), X21) and a1Delta(a2) --> X21 transitions of AsI have been measured in the near-infrared spectral region with a Fourier-transform spectrometer. The arsenic iodide radicals were generated and excited in a fast-flow system by reaction of arsenic vapor (Asx) with iodine and microwave-discharged oxygen. The most prominent features in the spectrum are six band sequences of the strong b1Sigma+(b0(+)) --> X3Sigma-(X10(+)) transition in the range 800-900 nm. With much lower intensities the hitherto unknown b1Sigma+(b0(+)) --> X3Sigma-(X21) subsystem and the a1Delta(a2) --> X21 transition near 1660 nm are observed. Vibrational analyses have yielded improved molecular constants for the X10(+) and b0(+) states and first values of the electronic energies and vibrational constants of the X21 and a2 states (in cm-1), X21: Te = 289.8(2), omegae = 255.2(2), omegaexe = 0.68(7), a2: Te = 6305.4(3), omegae = 267.8(1), omegaexe = 0.56(2), where the numbers in parentheses are the standard deviations of the parameters. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.