Laser spectroscopy of VS: hyperfine and rotational structure of the CΣ-XΣ transition

The (0,0) and (0,1) bands of the C⁴Σ⁻-X⁴Σ⁻ electronic transition of VS (near 809 and 846 nm, respectively) have been recorded at high resolution by laser-induced fluorescence, following the reaction of laser-ablated vanadium atoms with CS₂ under supersonic free-jet conditions. A least squares fit to the resolved hyperfine components of the rotational lines gives the rotational constants and bond lengths as C⁴Σ⁻: , ; X⁴Σ⁻: , . The electron spin parameters for the two states show that there are some similarities between the states of VS and those of VO, but the hyperfine parameters show that the compositions of the partly filled molecular orbitals are by no means the same. The ground state Fermi contact parameter of VS, b(X⁴Σ⁻), is only 58% of that of the ground state of VO, which implies that the σ orbital of the ground σδ² electron configuration has less than 50% vanadium 4s character. Similarly, the excited state Fermi contact parameter, b(C⁴Σ⁻), is very much smaller than that of VO. No local rotational perturbations have been found in the C⁴Σ⁻ state of VS, though an internal hyperfine perturbation between the F₂ and F₃ electron components at low N confuses the hyperfine structure and induces some forbidden (ΔJ=±2) rotational branches.     

Submillimeter-wave spectroscopy of VN (XΔr) and VO (XΣ): A study of the hyperfine interactions

The pure rotational spectra of VN (X³Δ_r) and VO (X⁴Σ⁻) have been recorded in the frequency range 290-520 GHz using direct absorption spectroscopy. These radicals were synthesized in the gas-phase from the reaction of VCl₄ with either N₂ or H₂O in an AC discharge. Seven rotational transitions were recorded for each molecule; in both sets of spectra, fine and hyperfine structures were resolved. The data sets for VN and VO were fit with Hund’s case (a) and case (b) Hamiltonians, respectively, and rotational, fine structure, and hyperfine constants determined. For VN, however, an additional hyperfine parameter, Δa, was necessary for the analysis of the Ω = 2 sublevel to account for perturbations from a nearby ¹Δ state, in addition to the usual Frosch and Foley constants. Determination of Δa suggests that the ¹Δ state lies ∼3000 cm⁻¹ above the ground state. In VO, the hyperfine structure in the F₂ and F₃ components was found to become heavily mixed due to an avoided crossing, predicted by previous optical studies to be near the N = 15 level. The hyperfine constants established for these two molecules are consistent with the proposed σ¹δ¹ and σ¹δ² electron configurations.     

The laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of TiF in the ultraviolet region

The laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrum of jet-cooled ⁴⁸TiF has been obtained in the wavelength region of 245-270 nm for the first time. Six pairs of vibronic bands were observed and assigned to two new transitions [37.8]⁴Φ-X⁴Φ and ⁴Δ-X⁴Φ. Rotational analysis was carried out for the (ν′ = 0-3 to ν″ = 0) vibrational bands of the [37.8]⁴Φ_3/2-X⁴Φ_3/2 and [37.8]⁴Φ_5/2-X⁴Φ_5/2 subbands, and also, the (ν′, 0) and (ν′+1, 0) vibrational bands of the ⁴Δ_1/2-X⁴Φ_3/2 and ⁴Δ_3/2-X⁴Φ_5/2 subbands. The effective equilibrium molecular constants for the [37.8]⁴Φ_3/2 and [37.8]⁴Φ_3/2 upper states were determined. In addition, lifetime measurements were carried out for all of the observed bands under collision-free conditions. On the basis of the spectroscopic constants and lifetime measurements, the electronic transitions involved in the observed high-lying electronic states are discussed.     

Fourier transform spectroscopy of the low-lying excited electronic states of FeO: A new perturbing Σ state and improved ground state constants

A small rotational perturbation has been found in the ⁵Δ_i ground state of FeO. This occurs in the v = 2 level of the $\text{Ω}\text{= 2}$ substate, and only one Λ-boudling component of one rotational level is affected. The perturbing state, which lies about 2100 cm^?1 above the lowest spin-orbit level of the molecule, is orbitally nondegenerate, and is likely to belong to the ⁷Σ⁺ state arising from the configuration (4sσ)¹(3dδ)²(3dπ)²(3dσ)¹. The new state, a⁷Σ⁺, is possibly responsible for anomalies in the intensity pattern of the FeO^? photodetachment spectrum of Engelking and Lineberger [J. Chem. Phys., 66, 5054–5058 (1977)]. Improved vibrational and rotational constants are presented for the ground state, combining new Fourier transform measurements of the Λ-doubling in X⁵Δ₁ with the recent microwave data of Endo et al. [Astrophys. J., 278, L131–132 (1984)].     

Calculation of the magnetic hyperfine structure in the ground electronic state of HCCO

In this paper we analyze the spin-spin hyperfine interaction in the two components of the ground electronic state of the free π radical HCCO, A²A′[²Π] and X²A″. Electronic mean values of the Fermi contact constants of all magnetic nuclei [¹H, ¹³C₁, ¹³C₂,¹⁷O] are calculated using models that include the electron-correlation correction, primarily CCSD method in the cc-pwCVTZ basis set and B3LYP functional in the cc-pCVQZ basis set. Also, we have calculated components of the anisotropic hyperfine tensor for the ground X²A″ state. The dependence of hyperfine coupling constants (HFCCs) on the two bending coordinates is examined, and the results of HCC bending (vibrational) averaging of electronic mean values are presented for both states. It is demonstrated that electronic and subsequent vibrational averaging of the HFCCs suffices for obtaining results that are in good agreement with available experimental findings (for proton) in the X²A″ state, owing to a small geometry dependence of these quantities, and relatively distant minimum from linearity.     

High-resolution Fourier-transform study of the X2Π3/2 → X1Π1/2 fine structure transitions of PbH and PbD

Near-infrared emission spectra of the X₂²Π_3/2 → X₁²Π_1/2 fine structure transitions of PbH and PbD have been investigated by high-resolution Fourier-transform spectrometry. The fine structure splitting in the X²Π_r ground state of ²⁰⁸PbH was found to be 6924.4926(4) cm⁻¹. Accurate rotational constants for the v = 0 and 1 vibrational levels of the X²Π_r states of ²⁰⁸PbH, ²⁰⁷PbH, ²⁰⁸PbD and ²⁰⁷PbD and hyperfine structure constants for the X₁²Π_1/2 states of ²⁰⁷PbH (²⁰⁷PbD) have been derived.     

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.     

Near infrared emission spectra of CoH and CoD

New high resolution emission spectra of CoH and CoD molecules have been recorded in the 640 nm to 3.5 μm region using a Fourier transform spectrometer. The bands were excited in a carbon tube furnace by the reaction of cobalt metal vapor and a mixture of H₂ or D₂ with He at a temperature of about 2600 °C. Eight bands were observed for the A′³Φ₄-X³Φ₄ electronic transition of CoD, and five bands for the corresponding transition of CoH. The (0, 0) bands of the A′³Φ₃-X³Φ₃ system were also recorded for both isotopologues, although one of the parity components in the X³Φ₃ sub-state of CoH was found to be perturbed. The A′³Φ₃-X³Φ₄ transition was also observed in our spectrum of CoH. In addition, a new [13.3]4 electronic state was found by observing [13.3]4-X³Φ₃ and [13.3]4-X³Φ₄ transitions in the spectrum of CoD. Analysis of the transitions with ΔΩ = 0, ± 1 provided more accurate values of spin-orbit splittings between Ω = 4 and Ω = 3 components. The ground-state data for both molecules were fitted both to band-constant and Dunham-expansion expressions, and a combined-isotopologue analysis of the X³Φ₄ spin component was carried out using the data for CoH and CoD. The upper states were represented by term values in these analyses because of perturbations, but estimated band constants for them were obtained in separate fits in which ground-state constants were held fixed.     

The pure rotational spectrum of ZnO in the XΣ and aΠi states

The pure rotational spectrum of ZnO has been measured in its ground X¹Σ⁺ and excited a³Π_i states using direct-absorption methods in the frequency range 239-514 GHz. This molecule was synthesized by reacting zinc vapor, generated in a Broida-type oven, with N₂O under DC discharge conditions. In the X¹Σ⁺ state, five to eight rotational transitions were recorded for each of the five isotopologues of this species (⁶⁴ZnO, ⁶⁶ZnO, ⁶⁷ZnO, ⁶⁸ZnO, and ⁷⁰ZnO) in the ground and several vibrational states (v = 1-4). Transitions for three isotopologues (⁶⁴ZnO, ⁶⁶ZnO, and ⁶⁸ZnO) were measured in the a³Π_i state for the v = 0 level, as well as from the v = 1 state of the main isotopologue. All three spin-orbit components were observed in the a³Π_i state, each exhibiting splittings due to lambda-doubling. Rotational constants were determined for the X¹Σ⁺ state of zinc oxide. The a³Π_i state data were fit with a Hund’s case (a) Hamiltonian, and rotational, spin-orbit, spin-spin, and lambda-doubling constants were established. Equilibrium parameters were also determined for both states. The equilibrium bond length determined for ZnO in the X¹Σ⁺ state is 1.7047 Å, and it increases to 1.8436 Å for the a excited state, consistent with a change from a π⁴ to a π³σ¹ configuration. The estimated vibrational constants of ω_e ∼ 738 and 562 cm⁻¹ for the ground and a state agreed well with prior theoretical and experimental investigations; however, the estimated dissociation energy of 2.02 eV for the a³Π_i state is significantly higher than previous predictions. The lambda-doubling constants suggest a low-lying ³Σ state.     

The electronic spectrum of tantalum hydride and deuteride

The diatomic molecule tantalum hydride (TaH) and its isotopologue tantalum deuteride (TaD) have been detected for the first time by laser excitation spectroscopy. The gas-phase molecules were produced in a hollow cathode discharge. Two red-degraded bands, one arising from TaH at 636 nm and the other from TaD at 635 nm, have been recorded at sub-Doppler resolution by intermodulated fluorescence spectroscopy. A rotational analysis shows that both bands are Ω = 2←2 in character, with well-resolved Ω-doubling in the upper state of TaH. Analysis of the ¹⁸¹Ta magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole hyperfine structure reveals that the lower X³Φ₂ electronic state of the two transitions arises from a σ²πδ electronic configuration, in agreement with previous theoretical calculations. The bond length in the TaH X³Φ₂ (v = 0) level is found to be 1.756960(4) Å.     

High-Resolution Fourier Transform Spectroscopy of Three Near-Infrared Transitions of NiF

The emission spectrum of the NiF radical has been recorded by high-resolution Fourier transform spectroscopy in the region 6000-12 000 cm⁻¹. Numerous new near-infrared bands were observed. In this paper three electronic transitions are analyzed leading to the identification of two new electronic states: a [12.0]²Φ_7/2 state and a [11.1]²Π_3/2 state located, respectively, at 12 008.89 and 11 096.05 cm⁻¹ above the X²Π_3/2 ground state. These electronic states can be correlated to the [3d⁸(³F)4s]²F atomic term of Ni⁺ as predicted by Carette et al. [J. Mol. Spectrosc.161, 323-335 (1993)].     

Ground state spectrum of methylcyanide

The rotational spectrum of methylcyanide (acetonitrile) in the ground vibrational state was measured in the spectral region from 91 to 810 GHz using the Cologne and Tsukuba spectrometers operated in the Doppler-limited and sub-Doppler saturation layouts. The resolution of the saturation Lamb-dip measurements is estimated to be about 1 kHz at the best of circumstances and the measuring accuracy of 10-60 kHz depending very sensitively on the quality of the spectrum. In the cases of rotational transitions with the low quantum number J (J<18) and with a low difference of the rotational quantum numbers J−K, the resolved or partly resolved hyperfine structures of the rotational transitions were observed. Together with the most accurate data from the literature, the newly measured experimental data were analyzed using the traditional polynomial energy formula as well as the Padè approximant for the effective rotational Hamiltonian. The resulting rotational, centrifugal distortion, and hyperfine structure spectroscopic constants were obtained with a significantly higher accuracy than the ones listed in the literature. In addition, an anomalous accidental resonance was detected between the K=14 ground state levels and the K=12, +l levels in the excited v₈=1 vibrational state.     

Studies on the Vibrational and Rovibrational Energies and Vibrational Force Constants of Diatomic Molecular States Using Algebraic and Variational Methods

Alternative expressions for vibrational and rotational spectrum constants and energies of diatomic molecular electronic states based on perturbation theory are suggested. An algebraic method (AM) is proposed to generate a converged full vibrational spectrum from limited energy data, and a potential variational method (PVM) is suggested to produce the vibrational force constants f_n and rotational spectrum constants using the perturbation formulae and the AM vibrational constants. The AM and PVM have been applied to study 10 diatomic electronic states: the X¹Σ_g⁺ and C¹Π_u⁻ states of H₂; the X¹Σ_g⁺, A³Σ_u⁺, B′³Σ_u⁻, and B³Π_g states of N₂; the X³Σ_g⁻, A³Σ_u⁺, and c¹Σ_u⁻ states of O₂; and the X¹Σ_g⁺ state of Br₂. Calculations show that (1) the AM E_υmax converges to the correct molecular dissociation energy; (2) the AM not only reproduce the input energies, but also generate the E_υ's of high vibrational excited states which may be difficult to obtain experimentally or theoretically; (3) the PVM vibrational force constants f_n may be used to measure the relative chemical bondstrengths of different diatomic electronic states for a molecule quantitatively.     

Velocity modulation spectroscopy of molecular ions II: The millimeter/submillimeter-wave spectrum of TiF (XΦr)

The pure rotational spectrum of the molecular ion TiF⁺ in its ³Φ_r ground state has been measured in the range 327-542 GHz using millimeter-wave direct absorption techniques combined with velocity modulation spectroscopy. TiF⁺ was made in an AC discharge from a mixture of TiCl₄, F₂ in He, and argon. Ten transitions of this ion were recorded. In every transition, fluorine hyperfine interactions, as well as the fine structure splittings, were resolved. The fine structure pattern was found to be regular with almost equal spacing in frequency between the three spin components, in contrast to TiCl⁺, which is perturbed in the ground state. The data were fit with a case (a) Hamiltonian and rotational, fine structure, and hyperfine constants were determined. The bond length established for TiF⁺, r₀ = 1.7775 Å, was found to be shorter than that of TiF, r₀ = 1.8342 Å—also established from mm-wave data. The hyperfine parameters determined are consistent with a δ¹π¹ electron configuration with the electrons primarily located on the titanium nucleus. The nuclear spin-orbit constant a indicates that the unpaired electrons are closer to the fluorine nucleus in TiF⁺ relative to TiF, as expected with the decrease in bond length for the ion. The shorter bond distance is thought to arise from increased charge on the titanium nucleus as a result of a Ti²⁺F⁻ configuration. A similar decrease in bond length was found for TiCl⁺ relative to TiCl.     

Laser spectroscopy of the A[16.4]8.5-X7.5, A[16.4]8.5-Y[0.15]8.5, and A[16.4]8.5-Z[0.85]7.5 transitions of dysprosium monochloride

Laser-induced fluorescence spectra have been obtained at low resolution using a laser ablation source and pulsed dye laser, and at high resolution using a Broida oven and cw ring dye laser. Dispersed fluorescence spectra from two different excited states, A[16.4]8.5 and B[15.4]Ω (unknown Ω) (the states are labelled [10⁻³T₀]Ω according to their energy and Ω assignment) showed transitions to the same four low lying electronic states, X7.5, Y[0.15]8.5, Z[0.85]7.5, and an unassigned state at 970 cm⁻¹. High resolution excitation spectra of the A-X 0-0, A-Y 0-0 and 0-1, and A-Z 0-0 and 0-1 transitions were obtained and a global fit to all the data yielded rotational constants for both ¹⁶²Dy³⁵Cl and ¹⁶⁴Dy³⁵Cl. From the band origins, vibrational frequencies of 291 and 284 cm⁻¹ were obtained for the Y[0.15]8.5 and Z[0.85]7.5 states, respectively, suggesting that these two states originate from the Dy⁺(4f¹⁰6s)Cl⁻ configuration. The ¹⁶²Dy-¹⁶⁴Dy and ³⁵Cl-³⁷Cl isotope effects were studied and both indicated a ground state, X7.5, vibrational frequency of ∼230 cm⁻¹ which was reinforced by the observation, in dispersed fluorescence from the B[15.4] state, of a weak transition to a state 233 cm⁻¹ above the ground state. The observed electronic states and their configurational origin are discussed in terms of ligand field theory predictions.     

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.     

Molecular beam electric resonance study of KCN,K13CN and KC15N

The microwave spectra of the isotopic species K¹³CN and KC¹⁵N have been investigated by molecular beam electric resonance spectroscopy, using the seeded beam technique. For both isotopic species about 20 rotational transitions originating in the ground vibrational state were observed in the frequency range 9–38 GHz. The observed transitions were fitted to an asymmetric rotor model to determine the three rotational, as well as the five quartic and three sextic centrifugal distortion constants. The hyperfine spectrum of KCN has been unravelled with the help of microwave-microwave double-resonance techniques. One hundred and forty hyperfine transitions in 11 rotational transitions have been assigned. The hyperfine structures of K¹³CN and KC¹⁵N were also studied. For all three isotopic species the quadrupole coupling constants and some spin-rotation coupling constants could be deduced. The rotational constants of the ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotopically substituted species of potassium cyanide, combined with those of the normal isotopic species (determined more accurately in this work), allowed an accurate and unambiguous evaluation of the structure, which was confirmed to be T shaped. Both the effective structure of the ground vibrational state and the substitution structure were evaluated. The results for the effective structural parameters are $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>CN</mtext>}}\text{= 1.169(3)}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>KC</mtext>}}\text{= 2.716(9)}\text{A}\text{?}$, and $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>KN</mtext>}}\text{= 2.549(9)}\text{A}\text{?}$. The values obtained for the principal hyperfine coupling constant eQq_z(N), the angle between the CN axis and z_N, and the bond length r_CN indicate that in gaseous potassium cyanide the CN group can be considered as an almost unperturbed CN^? ion.     

Laser spectroscopy of holmium monosulphide: Electronic, vibrational and rotational structure of the A[14.79]8.5-X8.5, A[14.79]8.5-W[0.25]7.5 and A[14.79]8.5-V[0.98]7.5 transitions

Laser induced fluorescence spectra of HoS have been obtained using a Broida oven and a ring dye laser. Dispersed fluorescence spectra showed transitions from a common upper state, A[14.79]8.5 to the v = 0 and 1 vibrational levels of three low lying states, labelled X8.5, W[0.25]7.5 and V[0.98]7.5 (the states are labelled [10⁻³T₀]Ω according to their energy and Ω assignment). High resolution excitation spectra were obtained for all six transitions and a rotational analysis yielded the following principal constants, in cm⁻¹, for the X, W and V states, respectively: T₀ = 0, 251.8713(31), 980.6969(37); B_e = 0.121903(42), 0.121729(37), 0.122561(34); ΔG_1/2 = 463.8811(46), 462.9411(45), 461.2084(127). For the A state, T₀ = 14794.6987(28) cm⁻¹ and B₀ = 0.112596(29) cm⁻¹. The three low lying states are shown to arise from the Ho²⁺[4f¹⁰(⁵I₈)6s]S²⁻ configuration in accord with Ligand Field Theory predictions. The atomic origin of each of the three low lying electronic states was determined from the observed resolved hyperfine structure.     

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.     

A Laser-Induced Fluorescence Study of the Visible Spectrum of Rhodium Monoxide

A first analysis of an electronic spectrum of RhO is presented. The molecular species has been produced in a jet-cooled molecular beam following reaction in a laser ablation plasma. Laser excitation spectra have been recorded between 600 and 640 nm at 200 MHz resolution. Two transitions have been identified of ²Π_r(a)-X⁴Σ⁻(b) type and six subbands have been rotationally analyzed, four being (0,0) components. Molecular parameters for the X⁴Σ ⁻ state are B₀=0.41320 cm⁻¹, λ₀=−0.5733 cm⁻¹, γ₀=−0.10276 cm⁻¹, and r₀=0.1717 nm. An analysis of the hyperfine structure involving the ¹⁰³Rh nucleus has been made. It shows that the ground state of RhO conforms to Hund's coupling case b_βJ with b=− 0.0203 cm⁻¹. Hyperfine effects in the excited states are negligible.