Line strengths and transition dipole moment of the nu2 fundamental band of the methyl radical

The line strengths of nine Q-branch lines in the nu(2) fundamental band of the methyl radical in its ground electronic state have been measured by diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The vibration-rotation spectrum of methyl was recorded in a microwave discharge in ditertiary butyl peroxide heavily diluted in argon. The absolute concentration of the radical was determined by measuring its kinetic decay when the discharge was extinguished. The translational, rotational, and vibrational temperatures, also required to relate the line strengths to the transition dipole moment, were determined from relative integrated line intensities and from the Doppler widths of the lines after allowing for instrumental factors. The line strengths of the nine Q-branch lines were used to derive a more accurate value of the transition dipole moment of this band, mu(2)=0.215(25) D. Improved accuracy over earlier measurements of mu(2) (derived from line strengths of single lines) was obtained by integrating over the complete line profile instead of measuring the peak absorption and assuming a Doppler linewidth to deduce the concentration. In addition, a more precise value for the rate constant for methyl radical recombination than available earlier was employed. The new value of mu(2) is in very good agreement with high-quality ab initio calculations. Furthermore, the ratio of the transition dipole moments of the nu(2) and nu(3) fundamental bands in the gas phase is now in highly satisfactory agreement with the ratio determined for the condensed phase.     

Highly accurate determinations of CO(2) line strengths using intensity-stabilized diode laser absorption spectrometry

An intensity-stabilized laser absorption spectrometer, which incorporates a mirror-extended cavity diode laser, a temperature-stabilized gas cell, and a Michelson interferometer, was developed and applied to a highly accurate investigation of line intensity factors within the nu(1)+2nu(2) (0)+nu(3) combination band of carbon dioxide, around 2 microm wavelength, at a temperature of 296.0 K. This relatively complex apparatus enables one to observe the absorption line shape with high precision and accuracy in such a way that it is possible to retrieve the integrated absorbance with a relative uncertainty better than 0.1%. The absorption spectra were interpolated with the uncorrelated strong-collision model of Rautian and Sobel'man in order to take into account Dicke narrowing effects, thus obtaining an agreement at a level of a few parts per 10(-5). We report line strength values for the R(2)-R(18) transitions with an unprecedented level of accuracy, in the range between 0.1% and 0.15%. Finally, we discuss the possibility of providing a first experimental test of the theoretical model for molecular line strengths based on the Herman-Wallis expansion.     

Absolute line intensity measurements of hot bands for carbonyl sulfide at 12 microm

Using diode-laser spectroscopy, the intensities of 58 lines of the v(1) + v(1/2) - v(1/2) band and 36 lines of the 2v(1) - v(1) band of OCS have been measured. The corresponding band strengths S(0)(v) and the vibrational transition dipoles micro(v) have been derived through least squares fitting of these individual intensities. The band strengths values have been determined with a precision better than 2.5%.     

Infrared diode laser spectroscopy of the deltanu=2 band of AlF

A vibrational-rotational spectrum of the deltanu=2 transitions of a high-temperature molecule AlF was observed between 1,490 and 1,586 cm(-1) with a diode laser spectrometer. Measurements were made on the nu=3-1, 4-2, 5-3 and 8-6 bands at a temperature of 900 degrees C. Measured spectral lines were fitted to effective band constants nu(0), B(nu) and D(nu) for each band. Present measurements were made with only one Pb-salt laser diode. Physical significance of the effective band constants is discussed.     

High-resolution infrared study of vinyl fluoride in the 750-1050 cm(-1) region: rovibrational analysis and resonances involving the nu8, nu10, and nu11 fundamentals

The FTIR spectra of CH2[double bond]CHF have been investigated in the nu(8), nu(10), and nu(11) region between 750 and 1050 cm(-1) at a resolution of about 0.002 cm(-1). The nu(8) vibration of symmetry species A' gives rise to an a/b-type hybrid band, while the nu(10) and nu(11) modes of A' ' symmetry produce c-type absorptions. Due to the proximity of their band origins, the three vibrations perturb each other by Coriolis and high-order anharmonic resonances. In particular, the interactions between the nu(8) and nu(10) modes are very strong and widespread with band origins separated by only 1.37 cm(-1). Besides the expected c-type characteristics, the nu(10) band shows a very intense pseudo a-type component caused by the strong first-order Coriolis resonances with the nu(8) state. Furthermore, the 2nu(9) "dark state" was found to be involved in the interacting band systems. The spectral analysis resulted in the identification of 3144, 3235, and 3577 transitions of the nu(8), nu(10), and nu(11) vibrations, respectively. Almost all the assigned data were simultaneously fitted using the Watson's A-reduction Hamiltonian in the Ir representation and the perturbation operators. The model employed includes nine types of resonances within the tetrad nu(8)/nu(10)/nu(11)/2nu(9) and a set of spectroscopic constants for the nu(8), nu(10), and nu(11) fundamentals as well as parameters for the "dark state" 2nu(9), and fourteen coupling terms have been determined.     

Infrared laser spectroscopy of jet-cooled carbon clusters: the nu 5 band of linear C9

The nu 5 antisymmetric stretching vibration of 1 sigma+g C9 has been observed using direct infrared diode laser absorption spectroscopy of a pulsed supersonic cluster beam. Twenty-eight rovibrational transitions measured in the region of 2079-2081 cm-1 were assigned to this band. A combined least squares fit of these transitions with previously reported nu 6 transitions yielded the following molecular constants for the nu 5 band: nu 0 = 2 079.673 58(17) cm-1, B"= 0.014 321 4(10) cm-1, and B'=0.014 288 9(10) cm-1. The IR intensity of the nu 5 band relative to nu 6 was found to be 0.108 +/- 0.006. Theoretical predictions for the relative intensities vary widely depending upon the level of theory employed, and the experimental value reported here is in reasonable agreement only with the result obtained from the most sophisticated ab initio calculation considered (CCSD).     

Cis-cis and trans-perp HOONO: action spectroscopy and isomerization kinetics

The weakly bound HOONO product of the OH+NO2+M reaction is studied using the vibrational predissociation that follows excitation of the first OH overtone (2nu1). We observe formation of both cis-cis and trans-perp conformers of HOONO. The trans-perp HOONO 2nu1 band is observed under thermal (223-238 K) conditions at 6971 cm(-1). We assign the previously published (warmer temperature) HOONO spectrum to the 2nu1 band at 6365 cm(-1) and 2nu1-containing combination bands of the cis-cis conformer of HOONO. The band shape of the trans-perp HOONO spectrum is in excellent agreement with the predicted rotational contour based on previous experimental and theoretical results, but the apparent origin of the cis-cis HOONO spectrum at 6365 cm(-1) is featureless and significantly broader, suggesting more rapid intramolecular vibrational redistribution or predissociation in the latter isomer. The thermally less stable trans-perp HOONO isomerizes rapidly to cis-cis HOONO with an experimentally determined lifetime of 39 ms at 233 K at 13 hPa (in a buffer gas of predominantly Ar). The temperature dependence of the trans-perp HOONO lifetime in the range 223-238 K yields an isomerization barrier of 33+/-12 kJ/mol. New ab initio calculations of the structure and vibrational mode frequencies of the transition state perp-perp HOONO are performed using the coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] model, using a correlation consistent polarized triple zeta basis set (cc-pVTZ). The energetics of cis-cis, trans-perp, and perp-perp HOONO are also calculated at this level [CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ] and with a quadruple zeta basis set using the structure determined at the triple zeta basis set [CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ//CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ]. These calculations predict that the anti form of perp-perp HOONO has an energy of DeltaE0=42.4 kJ/mol above trans-perp HOONO, corresponding to an activation enthalpy of DeltaH298 (double dagger 0)=41.1 kJ/mol. These results are in good agreement with statistical simulations based on a model developed by Golden, Barker, and Lohr. The simulated isomerization rates match the observed decay rates when modeled with a trans-perp to cis-cis HOONO isomerization barrier of 40.8 kJ/mol and a strong collision model. The quantum yield of cis-cis HOONO dissociation to OH and NO2 is also calculated as a function of photon excitation energy in the range 3500-7500 cm(-1), assuming D0=83 kJ/mol. The quantum yield is predicted to vary from 0.15 to 1 over the observed spectrum at 298 K, leading to band intensities in the action spectrum that are highly temperature dependent; however, the observed relative band strengths in the cis-cis HOONO spectrum do not change substantially with temperature over the range 193-273 K. Semiempirical calculations of the oscillator strengths for 2nu1(cis-cis HOONO) and 2nu1(trans-perp HOONO) are performed using (1) a one-dimensional anharmonic model and (2) a Morse oscillator model for the OH stretch, and ab initio dipole moment functions calculated using Becke, Lee, Yang, and Parr density functional theory (B3LYP), M?ller-Plesset pertubation theory truncated at the second and third order (MP2 and MP3), and quadratic configuration interaction theory using single and double excitations (QCISD). The QCISD level calculated ratio of 2nu1 oscillator strengths of trans-perp to cis-cis HOONO is 3.7:1. The observed intensities indicate that the concentration of trans-perp HOONO early in the OH+NO2 reaction is significantly greater than predicted by a Boltzmann distribution, consistent with statistical predictions of high initial yields of trans-perp HOONO from the OH+NO2+M reaction. In the atmosphere, trans-perp HOONO will isomerize nearly instantaneously to cis-cis HOONO. Loss of HOONO via photodissociation in the near-IR limits the lifetime of cis-cis HOONO during daylight to less than 45 h, other loss mechanisms will reduce the lifetime further.     

Relative vibrational overtone intensity of cis-cis and trans-perp peroxynitrous acid

The vibrational overtone spectrum of HOONO is examined in the region of the 2 nu(OH) and 3 nu(OH) bands using action spectroscopy in conjunction with ab initio intensity calculations. The present measurements indicate that the oscillator strength associated with the higher energy trans-perp conformer of HOONO is stronger relative to the lower energy cis-cis conformer for both these vibrational overtone levels. Ab initio intensity calculations carried out at the QCISD level of theory suggest that this disparity in oscillator strength apparently arises from differences in the second derivative of the transition dipole moment function of the two isomers. The calculations indicate that the oscillator strength for the trans-perp isomer is approximately 5.4 times larger than that of the cis-cis isomer for the 2 nu(OH) band and approximately 2 times larger for 3 nu(OH) band. The band positions and intensities predicted by the calculations are used to aid in the assignment of features in the experimental action spectra associated with the OH stretching overtones of HOONO. The observed relative intensities in the experimental action spectra when normalized to the calculated oscillator strengths appears to suggest that the concentration of the higher energy trans-perp isomer is comparable to the concentration of the cis-cis isomer in these room temperature experiments.     

High resolution spectroscopy of the nu(3) band of DCOOD

The rotation-vibration spectrum of DCOOD has been recorded in the carbonyl stretch (nu(3)) region. Using a standard S-reduced Watson Hamiltonian in the I(r) representation, 225 lines could be fitted to a vibrational-rotational band. A full set of molecular constants was obtained. The nu(3) band is found to be strongly perturbed in the K(a): 1<--1 and K(a): 2<--2 subband. The perturbation is attributed to a Fermi resonance with the 2nu(8) overtone band and Coriolis coupling to a combination band (nu(4)+nu(7)). The band center is determined to be 1725.1218(1) cm(-1) which is more than 10 cm(-1) shifted compared to previous studies.     

The molecular structure and a Renner-Teller analysis of the ground and first excited electronic states of the jet-cooled CS2 + molecular ion

The A 2Pi(u) - X 2Pi(g) electronic band system of the jet-cooled CS2 + ion has been studied by laser-induced fluorescence and wavelength-resolved emission techniques. The ions were produced in a pulsed electric discharge jet using a precursor mixture of carbon disulfide vapor in high-pressure argon. Rotational analysis of the high-resolution spectrum of the 2Pi32 component of the 0(0) 0 band gave linear-molecule molecular structures of r0" = 1.5554(10) A and r0' = 1.6172(12) A. Renner-Teller analyses of the vibronic structure in the spectra showed that the ground-state spin-orbit splitting (A = -447.0 cm(-1)) is much larger than that of the excited state (A = -177.5 cm(-1)), but that the Renner-Teller parameters are of similar magnitude and that a strong nu1 - 2nu2 Fermi resonance occurs in both states. Previous analyses of the vibronic structure in the ground and excited states of the ion from pulsed field-ionization-photoelectron data are shown to be substantially correct.     

Persistence rewarded: successful observation of the B 2Sigmau+-X 2Pig electronic transition of jet-cooled BS2

The B-X electronic transition of jet-cooled BS2 has been observed using laser-induced fluorescence techniques. The boron disulfide radical was produced in a pulsed electric discharge jet using a mixture of BCl3 and CS2 in high-pressure argon as the precursor. The spectrum consists of a strong 0(0)(0) band with the 2Sigma-2Pi(3/2) component at 24,393.2 cm(-1) and short progressions in the symmetric stretching (nu1' = 506.7 cm(-1)) and bending (nu2' = 303.2 cm(-1)) modes. A rotational analysis of both spin-orbit components of the 0(0)(0) band gave an upper state B value of 0.0932779(19) cm(-1) and a ground-state spin-orbit coupling constant of A = -405.163(4) cm(-1). The ground-state bond length of 1.66492 angstroms increases to 1.6812(1) angstroms on sigmau --> pig electronic excitation. The B-X data have been used to further refine the Renner-Teller analysis, which is in good agreement with our previous work [J. Chem. Phys. 119, 2047 (2003)].     

High resolution infrared spectra and rovibrational analysis of the coupled nu2/nu5 bands of D3Si35Cl. Equilibrium rotational constants

The Fourier transform infrared spectrum of monoisotopic D3Si35Cl in the region of the nu2/nu5 band system was recorded with a resolution of 2.4x10(-3) cm-1. More than 9000 lines of the strongly Coriolis x,y-coupled bands, (nu2)0=701.936, and (nu5)0=688.898 cm-1, have been assigned, among them 276 forbidden but perturbation allowed transitions around avoided crossings according to Delta(k-l)=+/-3 mechanisms. Three different models taking into account redundancies in the framework of unitary equivalent reductions of the rovibrational Hamiltonian have been employed to fit the data. All three models reproduced consistently the full data set employing 28 refined parameters with an rms deviation of 0.31x10(-3) cm-1. The equivalence of the parameter sets was established by the agreement of parameter sums obtained with the different models. The analysis of the avoided crossings, together with the fit of the forbidden lines, allowed an independent determination of the ground state parameters A0 and D(K)0. Combined with existing data for nu1, nu3, nu4, and nu6, the present results allowed the determination of experimental values, Ae=1.4371895(94) and Be=0.19823049(59) cm-1. The experimental results are compared with those of previous ab initio calculations of the anharmonic force field.     

Fermi interaction between the nu1 and the nu2+4 nu(s) bands of Ar...DN2(+)

Two rotationally fully resolved vibrational bands have been assigned unambiguously to the linear deuteron bound Ar...DN(2) (+) complex by using ground state combination differences. The ionic complex is formed in a supersonic planar plasma expansion optimized and controlled by a mass spectrometer and is detected in direct absorption using tunable diode lasers and applying production modulation spectroscopy. The band origins are located at 2436.272 cm(-1) and at 2435.932 cm(-1) and correspond to the nu(1) band (NN stretch) and to the nu(2)+4 nu(s) combination band (DN and intermolecular stretch), respectively. The two bands overlap strongly and the large intensity of the combination band is explained in terms of a Fermi interaction. This interaction perturbs the observed transitions, particularly for low J values. Least-squares fitting yields values for the Fermi interaction parameters of F(0)=0.332 cm(-1) and F(J)=-0.001 46 cm(-1) and results in accurate rotational constants. These are discussed both from an experimental and a theoretical point of view.     

Anharmonic vibrational frequencies and vibrationally averaged structures and nuclear magnetic resonance parameters of FHF-

The anharmonic vibrational frequencies of FHF(-) were computed by the vibrational self-consistent-field, configuration-interaction, and second-order perturbation methods with a multiresolution composite potential energy surface generated by the electronic coupled-cluster method with various basis sets. Anharmonic vibrational averaging was performed for the bond length and nuclear magnetic resonance indirect spin-spin coupling constants, where the latter computed by the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster method. The calculations placed the vibrational frequencies at 580 (nu(1)), 1292 (nu(2)), 1313 (nu(3)), 1837 (nu(1) + nu(3)), and 1864 cm(-1) (nu(1) + nu(2)), the zero-point H-F bond length (r(0)) at 1.1539 A, the zero-point one-bond spin-spin coupling constant [(1)J(0)(HF)] at 124 Hz, and the bond dissociation energy (D(0)) at 43.3 kcal/mol. They agreed excellently with the corresponding experimental values: nu(1) = 583 cm(-1), nu(2) = 1286 cm(-1), nu(3) = 1331 cm(-1), nu(1) + nu(3) = 1849 cm(-1), nu(1) + nu(2) = 1858 cm(-1), r(0) = 1.1522 A, (1)J(0)(HF) = 124+/-3 Hz, and D(0) = 44.4+/-1.6 kcal/mol. The vibrationally averaged bond lengths matched closely the experimental values of five excited vibrational states, furnishing a highly dependable basis for correct band assignments. An adiabatic separation of high- (nu(3)) and low-frequency (nu(1)) stretching modes was examined and found to explain semiquantitatively the appearance of a nu(1) progression on nu(3). Our calculations predicted a value of 186 Hz for experimentally inaccessible (2)J(0)(FF).     

Supersonically cooled hydronium ions in a slit-jet discharge: high-resolution infrared spectroscopy and tunneling dynamics of HD2O+

Jet-cooled high-resolution infrared spectra of partially deuterated hydronium ion (HD2O+) in the O-H stretch region (nu3 band) are obtained for the first time, exploiting the high ion densities, long absorption path lengths, and concentration modulation capabilities of the slit-jet discharge spectrometer. Least-squares analysis with a Watson asymmetric top Hamiltonian yields rovibrational constants and provides high level tests of ab initio molecular structure predictions. Transitions out of both the lower (nu3(+)<--0(+)) and the upper (nu3(-)<--0(-)) tunneling levels, as well as transitions across the tunneling gap (nu3(-)<--0(+)) are observed. The nu3(-)<--0(+) transitions in HD2O+ acquire oscillator strength by loss of D(3h) symmetry, and permit both ground-state-[27.0318(72) cm(-1)] and excited-state-[17.7612(54) cm(-1)]-tunneling splittings to be determined to spectroscopic precision from a single rovibrational band. The splittings and band origins calculated with recent high level ab initio six-dimensional potential surface predictions for H3O+ and isotopomers [X. C. Huang, S. Carter, and J. M. Bowman, J. Chem. Phys. 118, 5431 (2003); T. Rajamaki, A. Miani, and L. Halonen, J. Chem. Phys. 118, 10929 (2003)] are in very good agreement with the current experimental results.     

Assignment of rovibrational transitions of propyne in the region of 2934-2952 cm(-1) measured by two-color IR-vacuum ultraviolet laser photoion-photoelectron methods

The infrared (IR) spectrum of propyne in the region of 2934-2952 cm(-1) has been recorded by the IR-vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)-photoion method. The spectrum is shown to consist of two near-resonant, but noncoupled vibrational bands: the nu2 symmetric methyl C-H stretching vibrational band and a combination vibrational band nucs. The previously unobserved Q line of the nucs band is observed. The rotational transition lines of the nu2=1 band produces IR-VUV-pulsed field ionization-photoelectron (IR-VUV-PFI-PE) signal at the C3H4+ (nu2+=1) photoionization threshold. The rotational transition lines associated with the nucs band do not produce IR-VUV-PFI-PE signal. Rotational transition lines of both vibrational bands are assigned and simulated; and ab initio calculations further confirm the assignment.     

Jet cooled spectroscopy of H2DO+: Barrier heights and isotope-dependent tunneling dynamics from H3O+ to D3O+

The first high resolution spectroscopic data for jet cooled H2DO+ are reported, specifically via infrared laser direct absorption in the OH stretching region with a slit supersonic jet discharge source. Transitions sampling upper (0-) and lower (0+) tunneling states for both symmetric (nu1+ <-- 0+, nu1- <-- 0-, and nu1- <-- 0+) and antisymmetric (nu3+ <-- 0+ and nu3- <-- 0-) OH stretching bands are observed, where +/- refers to wave function reflection symmetry with respect to the planar umbrella mode transition state. The spectra can be well fitted to a Watson asymmetric top Hamiltonian, revealing band origins and rotational constants for benchmark comparison with high-level ab initio theory. Of particular importance are detection and assignment of the relatively weak band (nu1- <-- 0+) that crosses the inversion tunneling gap, which is optically forbidden in H3O+ or D3O+, but weakly allowed in H2DO+ by lowering of the tunneling transition state symmetry from D(3h) to C(2v). In conjunction with other H2DO+ bands, this permits determination of the tunneling splittings to within spectroscopic precision for each of the ground [40.518(10) cm(-1)], nu1 = 1 [32.666(6) cm(-1)], and nu3 = 1 [25.399(11) cm(-1)] states. A one-dimensional zero-point energy corrected potential along the tunneling coordinate is constructed from high-level ab initio CCSD(T) calculations (AVnZ, n = 3,4,5) and extrapolated to the complete basis set limit to extract tunneling splittings via a vibrationally adiabatic treatment. Perturbative scaling of the potential to match splittings for all four isotopomers permits an experimental estimate of DeltaV0 = 652.9(6) cm(-1) for the tunneling barrier, in good agreement with full six-dimensional ab initio results of Rajamaki, Miani, and Halonen (RMH) [J. Chem. Phys. 118, 10929 (2003)]. (DeltaV0 (RMH) = 650 cm(-1)). The 30%-50% decrease in tunneling splitting observed upon nu1 and nu3 vibrational excitations arises from an increase in OH stretch frequencies at the planar transition state, highlighting the transition between sp2 and sp3 hybridizations of the OHD bonds as a function of inversion bending angle.     

The permanent electric dipole moments of iron monoxide, FeO

The Q(4) and R(4) branch features of the (0,0)D (5)Delta(4)-X (5)Delta(4) band system and the Q(3) and R(3) branch features of the (0,0)D (5)Delta(3)-X (5)Delta(3) band system of iron monoxide FeO have been studied by optical Stark spectroscopy. The Stark splittings in the high resolution laser induced fluorescence spectra were analyzed to produce values for the magnitude of the permanent electric dipole moments /mu/ of 4.50+/-0.03, 4.29+/-0.05, 2.53+/-0.04, and 2.58+/-0.06 D for the X (5)Delta(4) (nu=0), X (5)Delta(3) (nu=0), D (5)Delta(4) (nu=0), and D (5)Delta(3) (nu=0) states, respectively. The results are compared to several ab initio predictions and to FeC. The qualitative trends are explained in terms of a molecular orbital correlation picture.     

A stimulated emission pumping study of the first excited singlet state of germylidene (H2C=Ge)

The A (1)A(2) states of H(2)CGe and D(2)CGe have been explored for the first time by A-X laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy of the orbitally forbidden S(1)-S(0) transition and stimulated emission pumping (SEP) and wavelength resolved fluorescence studies of the allowed B-A electronic transition. Medium-resolution SEP studies gave the excited A state nu(2), nu(3), nu(4), and nu(6) vibrational frequencies for H(2)C(74)Ge and D(2)C(74)Ge. The 4(1) and 6(1) levels and higher combination and overtone states are strongly Coriolis coupled, which perturbs the rotational subband structure, limiting the accuracy of the determination of the vibrational frequencies. High-resolution SEP studies of the B-A 0(0) (0) band have allowed us to determine the rotational constants of the A state of H(2)C(74)Ge, from which we were able to calculate an approximate r(0) structure with the CH bond length constrained to the ground state value. The zero-point level of D(2)C(74)Ge is substantially perturbed, most plausibly by interaction with an excited vibrational level of the nearby triplet (a (3)A(2)) state.