Vibrational and rotational analyses of bands between 636 and 660 nm in the red system of CuCl2

The long wavelength end of the electronic spectrum of CuCl₂, between 636 and 660 nm, has been recorded in the gas phase by laser-excitation spectroscopy using a sample prepared at low temperatures (ca. 10 K) in a free-jet expansion. Under these conditions, it is possible to resolve vibrational, rotational, and even Cu hyperfine structure. The (0, 0) band of the E²Π_u-X²Π_g transition has been identified with an origin at 15546.286(3) cm⁻¹ for ⁶³Cu³⁵Cl₂. The observation and analysis of bands involving vibrationally excited levels has allowed the determination of all three vibrational intervals for the E²Π_u state (ν₁ = 335.88 cm⁻¹, ν₂ = 112.42 cm⁻¹, and ν₃ = 482.17 cm⁻¹, ⁶³Cu³⁵Cl₂). In addition, two other, unrelated transitions have been identified in the same narrow wavelength region. This, combined with the observation of local perturbations of the rotational structure in various bands, reveals the presence of other closely lying electronic states in the same energy region.