Laser-Induced Fluorescence Molecular Beam Investigation of New Singlet and Triplet Electronic States of Yttrium Monohydride

The yttrium monohydride spectrum in the range 12 500-25 000 cm⁻¹ has been studied by various laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) techniques. YH (YD) molecules have been produced in a free jet molecular beam apparatus by a laser vaporizing yttrium metal in the presence of He doped with H₂ (D₂) or NH₃ (ND₃). Low-resolution (∼0.04 cm⁻¹) excitation spectra have been recorded in the entire studied range. Four green bands (19 300-19 900 cm⁻¹) of the YH isotopomer have been studied in more detail: (1) high-resolution (∼120 MHz, ∼0.004 cm⁻¹) excitation spectra have been recorded, (2) dispersed fluorescence spectra have been obtained, and (3) lifetimes of the selected rotational levels of the upper states have been measured. Our observations have confirmed that the ground state of yttrium monohydride has ¹Σ⁺ symmetry and have provided a link between the singlet and triplet manifolds. The upper states of the observed transitions have been tentatively assigned to five electronic states, d0⁺, f³Π, f′1, D¹Π, E0⁺, and Fl. The low-energy excited electronic state observed in the dispersed fluorescence experiment has been assigned as the a³Δ state.     

Spectroscopy of nickel chloride: Identification of the [15.0] Π3/2 and [15.0] Δ5/2 states

Vibrational bands belonging to the [15.0] ²Δ_5/2-A²Δ_5/2, [15.0] ²Δ_5/2-X²Π_3/2, and [15.0] ²Π_3/2-X²Π_3/2 electronic transitions of NiCl have been observed in the 14 000-16 000 cm⁻¹ region. The [15.0] ²Δ_5/2 and [15.0] ²Π_3/2 states are identified for the first time. The observed bands have been recorded at high spectral resolution using several techniques, which include intracavity laser spectroscopy (ILS), Fourier transform emission spectroscopy (FTS), and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy. For the ILS absorption spectra, NiCl molecules were produced in a nickel hollow cathode operated with a small amount of CCl₄. For the FTS emission spectra, excited NiCl molecules were produced in a King-type carbon tube furnace loaded with NiCl₂ and heated to 1600 °C. In the LIF work, NiCl molecules were produced by reacting laser-ablated nickel with PCl₃ seeded in argon. Detailed analysis of rotational transition lines indicates that the observed [15.0] ²Δ_5/2 and [15.0] ²Π_3/2 states are only separated by 10 cm⁻¹ and are interacting with each other. Molecular constants for these newly observed electronic states are reported.     

High-Resolution Survey of the Visible Spectrum of NiF by Fourier Transform Spectroscopy

High-resolution spectra of NiF have been recorded in emission by Fourier transform spectroscopy using a very stable discharge source. The 0-0 bands of 14 electronic transitions have been studied, 6 of them for the first time. This work confirms the presence of 5 low-lying spin components X²Π_3/2, [0.25]²Σ⁺, [0.83]A²Δ_5/2, [1.5]B²Σ⁺, and [2.2]A²Δ_3/2 as known from previous laser-induced fluorescence experiments. Eight electronic states are now identified in the 18 000-24 000 cm⁻¹ range above the ground X²Π_3/2 state. Electronic assignments for these excited states are not always obvious because of violations of the selection rules and unusual fine structure parameters. We think that some of the upper states are spin components of quartet states. In such a congested spectrum, high-resolution spectra are best analyzed in conjunction with an energy level diagram constructed mainly by dispersed low resolution laser-induced fluorescence.     

High-resolution visible laser spectroscopy of HfF

The electronic spectrum of hafnium monofluoride has been investigated from 415 to 725 nm using a laser-ablation/molecular beam laser-induced fluorescence spectrometer. Several electronic systems were observed and data have been recorded at both low and high resolution. High resolution rotational analyses of the [17.4]1.5-X1.5 (0-0), [17.9]2.5-X1.5 (0-0), [19.7]0.5-X1.5 (0-0), [20.0]0.5-X1.5 (0-0), [21.1]2.5-X1.5 (0-0), [22.3]1.5-X1.5 (0-0), and [23.3]0.5-X1.5 (0-0) subbands have been carried out, resulting in accurate values for the ground and excited state effective rotational constants. Furthermore, the rotational analysis of the subbands assigned as [17.4]1.5-X1.5 (1-0) and [17.9]2.5-X1.5 (1-0) allows us to determine values of 589.7569(6) and 588.9076(6) cm⁻¹ for ΔG^′_1/2 [17.4] and ΔG^′_1/2 [17.9], respectively. From dispersed fluorescence data we find that ΔG^′′_1/2=670(13) cm⁻¹ for the ground state and that another low-lying electronic state lies at ∼2850 cm⁻¹. The data also suggests that a second low-lying electronic state lies at ∼5200 cm⁻¹ above the ground state.     

The Electronic Spectrum of NiCN in the Visible Region

The electronic spectrum of NiCN in the 500-630 nm region has been observed by laser-induced fluorescence, following the reaction of laser-ablated nickel atoms with cyanogen under free jet expansion conditions. Seven electronic states have been identified. Three of these, X?₁²Δ_5/2, X?₂²Δ_3/2, and W?₁²Π_3/2, are derived from the electron configuration Ni⁺ (3d⁹) CN⁻, and the other four, òΔ_5/2, B?²Π_3/2, C?²Φ_7/2, and D?²Φ_5/2, are derived from the configuration Ni⁺ (3d⁸ 4s) CN⁻. Rotational analysis of bands of NiC¹⁴N and NiC¹⁵N at high resolution has given the bond lengths in the X?₁²Δ_5/2 ground state as r₀ (Ni-C)=1.8292±0.0028 Å; r₀ (C-N)=1.1591±0.0029 Å. The orbital angular momentum splits the bending fundamental of the X?₁²Δ_5/2 state into two vibronic components, which lie at 243.640 cm⁻¹ (²Π_3/2) and 244.964 cm⁻¹ (²Φ_7/2). Exceptionally strong Fermi resonance occurs in the ground state between the Ni-C stretching vibration, ν₃, and the overtone of the bending vibration. Sixty vibrational levels of the ground state with |l|=0 and 1 have been assigned. They could be fitted by least squares to a simple matrix representation of the Fermi resonance that ignores the orbital angular momentum; the interaction matrix element, as a fraction of the bending frequency, turns out to be larger than that in the “prototype” molecule, CO₂. The two low-lying excited electronic states, X?₂²Δ_3/2 at 830 cm⁻¹ and W?₁²Π_3/2 at 2238 cm⁻¹, have very similar properties to the ground state. The energies of the excited states in the visible region bear a remarkable resemblance to those found in NiH (S. A. Kadavathu et al., 1991, J. Mol. Spectrosc.147, 448-470). Again, the effects of Fermi resonance in them are large but those of vibronic coupling are surprisingly small. The most significant vibronic coupling occurs between the òΔ_5/2 and B?²Π_3/2 states, which are separated by 79 cm⁻¹, an interval which is less than half the frequency of the bending vibration that couples them; large numbers of vibronically induced bands appear in the excitation and dispersed emission spectra, but the splitting between the vibronic components of the bending fundamental of the òΔ_5/2 state is only 6.988 cm⁻¹. Rotational perturbations are widespread in the òΔ_5/2 state, particularly in the levels of the ν₃ (Ni-C stretching) progression. Vibrational assignments have been made on the basis of the ⁵⁸Ni-⁶⁰Ni isotope shifts at high resolution and the Franck-Condon patterns in dispersed emission spectra. Various weak unassigned bands, both in the excitation and the dispers ed emission spectra, give evidence for the existence of at least three more excited electronic states which it has not been possible to characterize in detail.     

Nonadiabatic Predissociation Studies of the (1-3)Πg System of Al2 by Means of a Complex Rotated Finite Element Method

A general numerical Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg based diabatization procedure for electronic states in diatomics was applied to the adiabatic (1-3)³Π_g system of Al₂ in order to obtain a strictly diabatic basis. Using an exterior complex rotated finite element method, adiabatic Born-Oppenheimer (BO) as well as diabatic rovibronic term energy values and predissociation widths for the (2)³Π_g; (v, N)=(0−50, 0−25) and (3)³Π_g; (v, N)=(0−17, 0−25) levels were computed. Comparing rotationless BO and diabatic energies, differences between 10 and 25 cm⁻¹ are found for the (2)³Π_g levels while the (3)³Π_g levels display an almost constant shift ∼12 cm⁻¹. From the widths, the nonradiative lifetime for each rovibronic level was calculated. Based on existing rotationless radiative lifetimes, an estimation of an upper limit of about 50 ns was used to determine a number of rovibronic (2, 3)³Π_g levels which may be experimentally observed.     

Near-infrared Fourier-transform and millimeterwave spectra of the BiS radical

This paper reports the 6400-7400 cm⁻¹ Fourier-transform (FT) near-infrared (NIR) emission spectrum of the BiS X₂²Π_3/2 → X₁²Π_1/2 fine structure bands as well as the millimeterwave rotational spectrum of the X₁²Π_1/2 state. For the FTNIR observations, BiS was produced by reaction of bismuth with sulfur vapor and excited by energy transfer from metastable oxygen, O₂(a¹Δ_g), in a fast-flow system. As was the case for BiO [O. Shestakov, R. Breidohr, H. Demes, K.D. Setzer, E.H. Fink, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 190 (1998) 28-77], the 0.5 cm⁻¹resolution spectrum revealed a number of strong bands in the Δv = 0 and ±1 sequences which showed perturbed band spacings, band shapes, and intensities due to avoided crossing of the X₂²Π_3/2 and A₁⁴Π_3/2 potential curves for v^′ ? 4 of X₂²Π_3/2. The millimeterwave rotational spectrum of BiS in its X₁²Π_1/2 state was observed when BiS was produced in a high-temperature oven by a discharge in a mixture of Bi vapor and CS₂. The signal to noise ratio was markedly improved by using a White-type multipath cell. Ninety seven features from J′ = 23.5 to J′ = 41.5 were measured between 150 and 300 GHz. Analysis of the 0.5 cm⁻¹ resolution FT spectrum yielded the fine structure splitting and vibrational constants of the states. A simultaneous analysis of millimeterwave and a 0.005 cm⁻¹ FT spectrum of the 0-0 band of the NIR system was carried out to give precise rotational, fine, and hyperfine constants for the X₁²Π_1/2 and X₂²Π_3/2 states. The results are consistent with those reported earlier for BiO and indicate only a slight decrease in the unpaired electron density in the 6p(π^∗) orbital on the Bi atom.     

Spectroscopic Investigation of the Electronic Structure of YN: The XΣ Ground State and the New B1, C1 and D1 Excited Electronic States

YN molecules were produced in a free jet molecular beam apparatus by a laser vaporizing yttrium metal in the presence of He doped with NH₃. Laser excitation spectra were observed in the range 18 250-19 850 cm⁻¹. The ground state was confirmed to have ¹Σ⁺ symmetry. The fundamental vibration in the ground state was measured to be 650.6(1) cm⁻¹. Three new electronic states, B1, C1, and D1, were observed at 18 974.7(1), 19 023.3(1), and 19 824.0(1) cm⁻¹, respectively. The fundamental vibrations and equilibrium internuclear distances were found to be 718.3(1) cm⁻¹ and 1.939(8) for the B1 state and 723.5(1) cm⁻¹ and 1.9194(3) for the C1 state. Two additional electronic states were identified with the help of a deperturbation procedure, one of which is either the ¹Σ⁺ or the ³Σ₀⁻ state. The newly observed electronic states cannot be accounted for based on the existing ab initio results. We expect that these states correlate with the excited asymptote Y(4d¹5s²²D)+N(²D).     

A high resolution spectroscopic study of rhodium monochloride

Rhodium monochloride has been observed and characterized spectroscopically for the first time. The RhCl molecules were produced in a laser vaporization molecular beam source by the reaction of a laser vaporized rhodium plasma with CCl₄ doped in helium, and laser-induced fluorescence and dispersed fluorescence were used to study 15 of the strongest bands spanning the 535-415 nm region. Twelve of these bands were studied at high resolution using a cw ring dye laser. Two low-lying states separated by 140 cm⁻¹ have been observed. The ground state has Ω = 2 and is attributed to a ³Π_i state resulting from a δ⁴π³σ¹ electronic configuration. The other low-lying state has Ω = 3 and is attributed to a ³Δ_i state resulting from a δ³π⁴σ¹ electronic configuration. Excited states with Ω values ranging from 1 to 4 have been observed. Dispersed fluorescence from these excited levels has been used to identify a large number of low-lying electronic states within an energy range of 5200 cm⁻¹ and has also been used to determine a ground state vibrational frequency of ∼348 cm⁻¹. Λ-doublings have been observed in all the transitions studied at high resolution.     

Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Nickel, Palladium, and Platinum Oxide Anions

The 364-nm negative ion photoelectron spectra of XO and OXO molecules (X=Ni, Pd, and Pt) are reported. The spectra yield the electron affinities (EAs): EA(NiO)=1.455±0.005 eV; EA(PdO)=1.672±0.005 eV; EA(PtO)=2.172±0.005 eV; EA(ONiO)=3.043±0.005 eV; EA(OPdO)=3.086±0.005 eV; EA(OPtO)=2.677±0.005 eV. In addition, for the diatomics, transitions from the anion X?²Π_3/2 and X?′²Π_1/2 states into neutral X?³Σ⁻, ³Π, and for NiO and PdO, ¹Π, are assigned. Several states have been reassigned from those in the existing literature. Anion ²Π_3/2-²Π_1/2 spin-orbit splittings are measured, as are neutral ³Π₂-³Π₁ spin-orbit splittings: the XO ³Π ₂-³Π₁ splittings increase from 405±30 cm⁻¹ (NiO) to 805±30 cm⁻¹ (PdO) to 3580±40 cm⁻¹ (PtO). A bond length shortening of 0.03±0.01 Å is measured upon electron detachment from NiO⁻, resulting in an anion bond length of 1.66±0.01 Å. The bond length does not change upon electron detachment from PdO⁻ using 3.4-eV photons. The Pt-O bond length decreases by 0.035±0.010 Å in the ³Π₁←²Π_3/2 transition. The spectrum of OPtO displays a significantly more extended vibrational progression than those of ONiO or OPdO, and the O-Pt bond length is found to decrease by 0.07±0.01 Å upon electron detachment. The spectra support the view that the Ni-O bond is largely ionic, the Pd-O bond is somewhat less so, and the Pt-O bond displays a substantial covalent character.     

Fourier transform spectroscopy of new emission systems of NbN in the visible region

The emission spectrum of NbN has been reinvestigated in the 8000-35 000  cm⁻¹ region using a Fourier transform spectrometer and two groups of new bands were observed. The bands observed in the 18 000-20 000 cm⁻¹ region have been assigned to a new ³Π-X³Δ transition. Three bands with R heads near 19 463.8, 19 659.0 and 19 757.0 cm⁻¹ have been assigned as 0-0 bands of the ³Π₂-X³Δ₃, ³Π₁-X³Δ₂ and ³Π_0±-X³Δ₁ subbands, respectively, of this new transition. Three additional ΔΩ = 0 bands have been observed in the 24 000-26 000  cm⁻¹ region. A 0-0 band with an R head near 25 409.9 cm⁻¹ has been assigned as a ΔΩ = 0 transition having X³Δ₂ as its lower state while two additional bands with heads near 25 518.7 and 25 534.8 cm⁻¹ were found to be ΔΩ = 0 bands having X³Δ₁ as the common lower state. Two of these three bands are perhaps subbands of a ³Δ-X³Δ transition. Most of the excited levels are affected by perturbations.     

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.     

Rovibronic Levels for the (1-3)Πg Manifold of B2: Exterior Complex Scaling Finite Element Calculations Based on an Adiabatic and a Strictly Diabatic Basis

A one-dimensional complex scaled finite element method was applied on an adiabatic basis of B₂ in order to find rovibronic term energy values for the (1)³Π_g; (v, N)=(0-8, 0-25) and (2)³Π_g; (v, N)=(0-10, 0-25) levels. The method was also applied to the (1)³Π_g; (v, N)=(0-8, 0-25) and (2)³Π_g; (v, N)=(0-1, 0-25) levels in a strictly diabatic framework. Adiabatic single-channel and diabatic coupled-channel total wavefunctions were obtained and used in order to identify the vibrational levels. Comparing levels for the interacting two-state (1-2)³Π_g and three-state (1-3)³Π_g system, a constant energy shift of about 1.7 cm⁻¹ is found. Comparisons between the adiabatic Born-Oppenheimer (BO) and the diabatic (1)³Π_g; (v, N)=(0-8, 0-25) levels show differences between −20 and 7 cm⁻¹, while the corresponding shifts for the (2)³Π_g; (v, N)=(0, 0-25) and (1, 0-25) levels are about 50 and 60 cm⁻¹, respectively. A comparison between our three-state approximation and experimental observations of the (2)³Π_g-A³Π_u electronic transition shows a difference in the line positions of about 665 cm⁻¹. The calculated widths for all but the (1)³Π_g; (v, N)=(7-8, 0-25), as well as the (2)³Π_g; (v, N)=(0, 0-25) BO and diabatic rovibronic levels, have small but with N increasing predissociation rates. The (1)³Π_g; (v>8, N=0-25) BO and the (2)³Π_g; (v, N)=(1, 0-25) diabatic levels are strongly predissociated with widths ≥16 cm⁻¹.     

Identification of New Low-Lying Electronic States of the FeF Radical

Dispersed fluorescence studies on the ⁶Π-X⁶Δ and ⁶Φ−X⁶Δ systems of the FeF radical have resulted in the observation of vibrational progressions for transitions to the X⁶Δ state as well as at least two previously unobserved electronic states about 5000 cm⁻¹ above the ground state. The states are assigned as the A⁶Π and B⁶Σ⁺ electronic states. The spin components of both electronic states were found to be heavily perturbed resulting in uneven splittings between them. A third, weak series was also observed but could not be assigned. The (0,0) band of the ⁶Π_7/2−B⁶Σ⁺_5/2 transition at 398 nm was observed in absorption by laser induced fluorescence and its rotational structure was assigned. The spectra obtained were weak because of a poor population of the B⁶Σ⁺ state by the reaction used to form FeF. The levels were found to be markedly perturbed at high J values. Attempts were made to fit the data on the ⁶Π_7/2-B⁶Σ_5/2⁺ system to an effective Hamiltonian, but the presence of perturbations meant that the system is not well described by such a model.     

The visible spectrum of rhodium monoxide: RhO and RhO

Spectroscopic observations are reported for rhodium monoxide from hollow-cathode emission and laser-induced fluorescence experiments. Eleven bands of Rh¹⁶O and 10 of Rh¹⁸O, from the [15.8]²Π-X⁴Σ⁻ (b) and [16.0]²Π-X⁴Σ⁻ (b) transitions, have been rotationally analyzed. The ground state constants have been determined as B₀ = 0.4132, λ₀ = −0.58 and γ₀ = −0.102, in cm⁻¹. Rotational and lambda doubling parameters in v = 0, 1, 2, and 3 excited state vibrational levels have also been determined.     

Sub-millimeter wave spectroscopy of the C3H radical: Ro-vibrational transitions from ground to the lowest bending state

Linear C₃H in its (X²Π) electronic ground state possesses strong Renner-Teller coupling in the two lowest bending modes, ν₄ and ν₅. The ²Σ^μ level of the v₄ = 1 bending mode is shifted towards lower energies and is supposed to lie only 20.3 cm⁻¹ above the ground state [S. Yamamoto, S. Saito, H. Suzuki, S. Deguchi, N. Kaifu, S. Ishikawa, M. Ohishi, Astrophys. J. 348 (1990) 363]. In the present study, first measurements of ro-vibrational transitions from the ²Π_3/2 ground state to the ²Σ^μ lowest vibrational state were performed using a Terahertz spectrometer equipped with a supersonic jet nozzle. Rotational levels of the ²Π_3/2 and v₄ = 1(²Σ^μ) state are close in energy and a crossing of the rotational energy ladders occurs between J = 24.5 and 25.5. A strong vibronic coupling leads to a significant intensity enhancement of ²Π_3/2 − ²Σ^μ ro-vibrational transitions. The search for ro-vibrational transitions was facilitated by measurements on pure rotational transitions in the ²Π_1/2, ²Π_3/2 and v₄ = 1(²Σ^μ) states, substantially extending the former data set published by Yamamoto et al. Data analysis yields an accurate value for the v₄ = 1(²Σ^μ) energy level which has been found to lie 609.9771(42) GHz or 20.34664(14) cm⁻¹ above the ²Π ground state. Furthermore, the value of the vibronic coupling constant β has been improved significantly and determined as 1231.77(51) MHz. The new set of spectroscopic parameters obtained in the present study permits very reliable frequency predictions into the Terahertz region.     

Intracavity Laser Spectroscopy of NiCl System G: Identification of a [13.0] Π3/2 State

The (0,0) vibronic band of NiCl system G with a bandhead near 12 961 cm⁻¹ was recorded at high resolution in absorption using intracavity laser spectroscopy (ILS). For the ILS absorption spectra, the NiCl molecules were produced in a nickel hollow cathode, operated with a small amount of CCl₄, and line positions were referenced to iodine spectra. Fourier transform (FT) emission spectroscopy was used to record an extensive region of the spectrum used in a vibronic analysis of system G. For the FT spectra, excited NiCl molecules were produced in a high-temperature King-type carbon tube furnace. We show that this transition is the (0,0) vibronic band associated with a newly identified ²Π_3/2 excited state and the X²Π_3/2 ground state. The molecular constants for the new ²Π_3/2 electronic state are derived from the rotational analysis. Improved vibronic constants for the band are obtained from analysis of the FT spectra.     

High resolution Fourier transform spectrum of GaCl

The electronic emission spectrum of the A³Π₀-X¹Σ⁺ and B³Π₁-X¹Σ⁺ transitions of Gallium monochloride molecule (⁶⁹GaCl) has been recorded on BOMEM DA8 Fourier transform spectrometer at an apodized resolution of 0.035 cm⁻¹. The rotational structure of the 0-0, 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2, bands belonging to A-X and 0-0, 0-1, 1-2, and 0-2 bands belonging to B-X transitions has been analyzed and equilibrium rotational constants for the X¹Σ⁺ and A³Π₀ states have been obtained. For the first time we are able to determine the Λ-doubling constants in the v = 0 and 1 levels of the B³Π₁ state.     

Intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy of platinum fluoride, PtF

Two vibrational bands of an electronic transition of PtF occurring at 11 940 cm⁻¹ and 12 496 cm⁻¹ were recorded and analyzed. These transitions are identified as the (0,0) and (1,0) bands of an [11.9] Ω = 3/2 − XΩ = 3/2 electronic transition. Gas phase PtF was produced in a copper hollow cathode lined with platinum foil using a trace amount of SF₆, and the spectrum was recorded at Doppler resolution by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy. This work represents the first published spectroscopic data on PtF. Molecular constants for the ground and excited electronic states are presented.