The Near-Infrared Transition of CuCl Observed by Intracavity Laser Spectroscopy

The near-infrared electronic transition of CuCl, occurring in the region of 745 nm, was recorded using intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy. The (0, 0), (1, 1), and (2, 2) vibronic bands were analyzed, and from this the molecular constants for the two electronic states were derived. Originally assigned as A' (3)Sigma(+)-X(1)Sigma(+), we have confirmed that this transition does not connect to the ground state, but occurs between two unknown excited states. The excited CuCl molecules were produced in a copper hollow cathode, operated using argon and a small amount of CCl(4). Line positions were referenced to iodine spectra observed from a heated extracavity cell using the broadband spectral output of the intracavity laser as the light source. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.