The observation of hot bands in the 288 nm system of the FeCl2 radical

The 288 nm band system of FeCl₂ has been recorded with a sample produced in a warmed, free-jet expansion at moderately high resolution (with a linewidth of 0.28 cm⁻¹). Under these conditions, several hot bands are observed involving excitation of the symmetric and anti-symmetric stretching vibrations. The wavenumbers determined as a result for FeCl₂ in its ground ⁵Δ_g,4 state are and . No hot, sequence bands in the bending vibration were observed. The most likely explanation is that the wavenumber for ν₂ is essentially the same in both the electronic states involved (88 cm⁻¹). Additional strong hot bands are observed that are unrelated to the previously assigned electronic transitions; they appear to emanate from a low-lying electronic state of FeCl₂.