Resonance raman scattering from metastable O2 molecules in γ-irradiated NaClO3

Resonance Raman scattering has been observed from metastable O₂ molecules produced in single crystals of NaClO₃ by γ-irradiation at 300 K. Evidence that the observed bands are due to O₂ is provided by the Raman spectrum of irradiated ¹⁸O enriched NaClO₃ in which bands due to ¹⁶O₂, ¹⁶O ¹⁸O, and ¹⁸O₂ were identified. The Raman band at 1544 cm^?1 ascribed to metastable O₂ disappears on bleaching with intense 4880 Å radiation enabling the identification of a weaker band at 1557 cm^?1 that is assigned to the stable form of O₂.