The fluorescence excitation spectrum of s-tetrazine cooled in a supersonic free jet

The fluorescence excitation spectrum of the ${}^1\text{B}{}_{\mathrm{3u}}\text{(v′ = 0) ←}{}^1\text{A}{}_{\mathrm{g}}\text{(v″ = 0)}$ transition in s-tetrazine has been observed and measured. The sample was cooled to a rotational temperature of <1 K by expansion in a supersonic free jet. In this way the rotational structure arising from asymmetry split low J lines could be observed. The rotational A and B axes of the ²H₁¹²C₂¹⁴N₄ isotope were observed to interchange upon electronic excitation and a theory describing the effect of this interchange upon the optical selection rules has been developed. Analysis of the resolved rotational structure suggests that the geometry change upon electronic excitation is smaller than that deduced from previous analysis of the room temperature optical spectrum.