Intracavity Laser Absorption Spectroscopy of D2O between 12 850 and 13 380 cm

The high resolution absorption spectrum of dideuterated water, D₂O, has been recorded by Intracavity Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (ICLAS) in the 12 850-13 380 cm⁻¹ spectral region which is the higher energy region reported so far for this water isotopologue. Very high deuterium enrichment was necessary to minimize the HDO absorption lines overlapping the D₂O spectrum. The achieved sensitivity (noise equivalent absorption α_min ∼ 10⁻⁹ cm⁻¹) allowed detecting transitions with line strengths on the order of 5 × 10⁻²⁸ cm/molecule. The spectrum analysis, based on recent variational calculations has provided a set of 422 new rovibrational energy levels belonging to 11 vibrational states, including rotational sublevels for four new vibrational states and one level of the (0 9 1) highly excited bending state. The very weak (1 0 4)-(0 0 0) band at 13 263.902 cm⁻¹, which is the highest D₂¹⁶O band currently observed, could be assigned despite the fact that the HDO absorption in the region is stronger by three orders of magnitude. The list of 996 D₂¹⁶O transitions is provided as Supplementary Material.     

Line parameters of HDO from high-resolution Fourier transform spectroscopy in the 11 500-23 000 cm spectral region

This work presents new measurements of HDO line parameters in the near-infrared and visible regions (11 500-23 000 cm⁻¹). The measurements consist in high-resolution Fourier transform absorption spectra of H₂O/HDO/D₂O vapor mixtures, obtained using a long absorption path. Spectra with and without nitrogen as the buffer gas were recorded. Due to the simultaneous presence of the three isotopologues H₂O, D₂O, and HDO, the H₂O lines removal and the D₂O lines identification were two necessary preliminary steps to derive the HDO line parameters. The D₂O contribution was small and confined to the well-known 4ν₁ + ν₃ band. An extensive listing of HDO spectroscopic parameters was obtained, for the first time, by fitting some 3256 observed lines to Voigt line profiles. The list contains calibrated line positions, absorption cross-sections and, for many of the lines, N₂-broadening coefficients, as well as N₂-induced frequency shifts. As a result of the low HDO vapor pressures, it was not possible to retrieve the self-broadening parameters. The list is available on the http://www.ulb.ac.be/cpm website.     

High sensitivity CW-cavity ring down spectroscopy of water in the region of the 1.5 μm atmospheric window

The absorption spectrum of natural water vapour around 1.5 μm has been recorded with a typical sensitivity of 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm⁻¹ by using a CW-cavity ring down spectroscopy set up based on fibred DFB lasers. A series of 31 DFB lasers has allowed a full coverage of the 6130.8-6748.5 cm⁻¹ (1.63-1.48 μm) region corresponding to the H transparency band of the atmosphere. The line parameters (wavenumber and intensity) of a total of 5190 lines, including 4247 lines of water vapor, were derived by a one by one fit of the lines to a Voigt profile. Different isotopologues of water (H₂¹⁶O, H₂¹⁸O, H₂¹⁷O, and HD¹⁶O) present in natural abundance in the sample contribute to the spectrum. For the main isotopologue, H₂¹⁶O, 2130 lines were measured with line intensities as weak as 10⁻²⁹ cm/molecule while only 926 lines (including a proportion of 30% inaccurate calculated lines) with a minimum intensity of 3 × 10⁻²⁷ cm/molecule are provided by the HITRAN and GEISA databases. Our comparison in the whole 5750-7965 cm⁻¹ region, has also evidenced that an error in the process of conversion of the intensity units from cm⁻²/atm to cm⁻¹/(molecule × cm⁻²) at 296 K, has led to H₂¹⁶O line intensities values listed in the HITRAN-2000 database, systematically 8 % below the original FTS values. The rovibrational assignment was performed on the basis of the ab initio calculations by Schwenke and Partridge with a subsequent refinement and validation using the Ritz combination principle together with all previously measured water transitions relevant to this study. This procedure allowed determining 172, 139, 71, and 115 new energy levels for the H₂¹⁶O, H₂¹⁸O, H₂¹⁷O, and HD¹⁶O isotopologues, respectively. The results are compared with the available databases and discussed in regard of previous investigations by Fourier transform spectroscopy. The spectrum analysis has showed that most of the transitions which cannot be assigned to water are very weak and are due to impurities such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, leaving only about 3% of the observed transitions unassigned. The interest of a detailed knowledge of water absorption for trace detectors developed in the 1.5 μm range is underlined: for instance HDO contributes significantly to the considered spectrum while no HDO line parameters are provided by the HITRAN database.     

Intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy of HDO between 12 145 and 13 160 cm

The high resolution absorption spectrum of monodeuterated water, HDO, has been recorded by Intracavity Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (ICLAS) in the 12 145-13 160 cm⁻¹ region. The achieved sensitivity (noise equivalent absorption on the order of α_min ∼ 10⁻⁹ cm⁻¹) allowed detecting transitions with line strengths as weak as 10⁻²⁷ cm/molecule which is about 50 times lower than the weakest line intensities previously detected in the considered region.The rovibrational assignment of the 1179 lines attributed to the HDO isotopologue was based on the results of the variational calculations of Schwenke and Partridge as well as the recent calculations based on a new HDO potential energy surface refined from the fitting to the available experimental data. The overall agreement between these new calculations and the observed spectrum is very good, the rms deviation of the differences between the calculated and observed energy values being 0.05 cm⁻¹. A set of 304 new experimental HDO energy levels was obtained. In particular, band origins for the (1 2 2), (2 0 2), and (3 1 1) vibrational states, at 12 568.190, 12 644.652, and 12 919.938 cm⁻¹, respectively, and their rotational sublevels are derived for the first time. A detailed HDO database of 1337 transitions was constructed and is provided as Supplementary Material.     

N2O emission in the 4.5 μM region: high excitation of the bending mode transitions v1v2v3→v1v2(v3−1) with (2v1+v2)=5

Eight emission spectra of pure N₂O and N₂O + N₂ + He mixtures excited by a radio frequency discharge were recorded by Fourier Transform Spectroscopy at a resolution of 0.005 and 0.004 cm⁻¹ in the 4.5 μm region. Results (wavenumbers, band centers, and spectroscopic constants) concerning nine new vibrational transitions which have not been observed before, and which occur between highly excited levels of the bending mode are reported. The derived spectroscopic parameters allow us to reproduce the experimental wavenumbers with an RMS error lower than 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹.     

Fourier transform emission spectroscopy of YbO in the near-infrared region

The emission spectrum of gas-phase YbO has been investigated using a Fourier transform spectrometer. Chemiluminescence was observed from excited YbO molecules produced in a Broida-type oven by the reaction of ytterbium metal vapor with N₂O. A total of eight red-degraded bands in the range 9800-11 300 cm⁻¹ were recorded at a resolution of 0.04 cm⁻¹. Because of the multiple isotopomers present in the spectra, only three bands were rotationally analyzed. Perturbations were identified in two of these bands and all three transitions were found to terminate at the X1Σ+ ground electronic state. The electronic configurations that give rise to the observed states are discussed and molecular parameters for all of the analyzed bands are reported.     

HDO absorption spectrum above 11 500 cm: Assignment and dynamics

Assignment of an HDO line list extracted from a recently measured H₂O/HDO/D₂O Fourier transform absorption spectrum recorded in the 11 600-23 000 cm⁻¹ region by Bach et al. (M. Bach, S. Fally, P.-F. Coheur, M. Carleer, A. Jenouvrier, A.C. Vandaele, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 232 (2005) 341-350.) is presented. More than 94% of the 3256 lines are given quantum number assignments and ascribed to line absorption by HDO; most of the remaining lines are actually due to D₂O. High accuracy variational predictions of line positions and intensities are used for the spectral assignment process. Assignments to the ν₁ + 5ν₃, 2ν₂ + 5ν₃, ν₁ + ν₂ + 3ν₃ and ν₁ + 6ν₃ bands are presented for the first time. Comparisons are made with published ICLAS spectra covering the same spectral region and suggestions made for its recalibration. The results are used to illustrate the dynamical behaviour of highly excited vibrational states of HDO and to discuss previous vibrational assignments to high lying rotation-vibration states of this system.     

Intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy of HDO between 11 645 and 12 330 cm

The weak absorption spectrum of monodeuterated water, HDO, has been recorded by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ICLAS) between 11 645 and 12 330 cm⁻¹. This spectrum is dominated by the ν₂ + 3ν₃ band of HDO at 11969.76 cm⁻¹. A total of 497 energy levels belonging to 12 vibrational states were determined while only 140 levels were previously reported from a recent investigation by Fourier transform spectroscopy in the same spectral region. The rovibrational identification process of the 1378 lines assigned to the HDO isotopologue was mostly based on the results of the accurate variational calculations of Schwenke and Partridge. The overall agreement between these calculations and the observed spectrum is very good. However, strong discrepancies in the calculated line intensities were evidenced in a few cases corresponding to an intensity transfer to a dark state through local resonance interaction.     

Fourier transform measurements of water vapor line parameters in the 4200-6600 cm region

New high-resolution water vapor absorption spectra were obtained at room temperature in the 4200-6600 cm⁻¹ spectral region by combining Fourier transform spectrometers (FTS) with single and multiple reflection cells. With absorption paths from 0.3 to 1800 m in pure and air diluted water vapor, accurate measurements of about 10400 lines in an intensity range from 10⁻²⁹ to 10⁻¹⁹ cm/molecule have been performed. Positions, intensities, self- and air-broadening coefficients and air-induced shifts were determined for the H₂¹⁶O, H₂¹⁷O, H₂¹⁸O and HDO isotopologues. The rovibrational assignment of the observed lines was performed with the use of global variational predictions and allowed the identification of several new energy levels. One major contribution of this work consists of the identification of 3280 new weak lines. A very close agreement between the new measured parameters and those listed in the database is reported as well as between the observations and the most recent variational calculations for the positions and the intensities. The present parameters provide an extended and homogeneous data set for water vapor, which is shown to significantly improve the databases for atmospheric applications, especially in the transmission windows on both sides of the band centered at 5400 cm⁻¹.     

Assessment of the consistency of H2O line intensities over the near-infrared using sun-pointing ground-based Fourier transform spectroscopy

We report on the consistency of water vapour line intensities in selected spectral regions between 800-12,000 cm⁻¹ under atmospheric conditions using sun-pointing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Measurements were made across a number of days at both a low and high altitude field site, sampling a relatively moist and relatively dry atmosphere. Our data suggests that across most of the 800-12,000 cm⁻¹ spectral region water vapour line intensities in recent spectral line databases are generally consistent with what was observed. However, we find that HITRAN-2008 water vapour line intensities are systematically lower by up to 20% in the 8000-9200 cm⁻¹ spectral interval relative to other spectral regions. This discrepancy is essentially removed when two new linelists (UCL08, a compilation of linelists and ab-initio calculations, and one based on recent laboratory measurements by Oudot et al. (2010) [10] in the 8000-9200 cm⁻¹ spectral region) are used. This strongly suggests that the H₂O line strengths in the HITRAN-2008 database are indeed underestimated in this spectral region and in need of revision. The calculated global-mean clear-sky absorption of solar radiation is increased by about 0.3 W m⁻² when using either the UCL08 or Oudot line parameters in the 8000-9200 cm⁻¹ region, instead of HITRAN-2008. We also found that the effect of isotopic fractionation of HDO is evident in the 2500-2900 cm⁻¹ region in the observations.     

Near infrared spectroscopy of carbon dioxide I. OCO line positions

High-resolution near-infrared (4000-9000 cm⁻¹) spectra of carbon dioxide have been recorded using the McMath-Pierce Fourier transform spectrometer at the Kitt Peak National Solar Observatory. Some 2500 observed positions have been used to determine spectroscopic constants for 53 different vibrational states of the ¹⁶O¹²C¹⁶O isotopologue, including eight vibrational states for which laboratory spectra have not previously been reported. Calibration by simultaneous use of CO near 4200 cm⁻¹ and C₂H₂ near 6500 cm⁻¹ provides absolute line position accuracies of 6.0 × 10⁻⁵ cm⁻¹ (RMS) for strong, isolated transitions throughout the observed range. Fits with RMS errors <3.8 × 10⁻⁵ cm⁻¹ have been obtained for the 20013 ← 00001, 20012 ← 00001, and 20011 ← 00001 bands, RMS errors <6 × 10⁻⁵ cm⁻¹ have been obtained for the 30014 ← 00001, 30013 ← 00001, 30012 ← 00001, and 00031 ← 00001 bands, and RMS errors <5 × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹ for even the weakest fitted bands. This work reduces CO₂ near-infrared line position uncertainties by a factor of 10 or more compared to the 2000 HITRAN line list, which has not been modified since the comprehensive work of Rothman et al. [J. Quant. Spectrosc. Rad. Transfer 48 (1992) 537]. The new line list satisfies the line position accuracies required for the next generation of CO₂ remote sensing instruments, improves the capability of solar-viewing spectrometers to retrieve precise column CO₂ measurements, and provides a secondary frequency standard in the near-infrared.     

Rovibrational spectrum of the Ne-N2O van der Waals complex in the 1285 cm region

The rovibrational spectrum of the Ne-N₂O van der Waals complex has been recorded in the symmetric stretching mode region of the N₂O monomer (∼1285 cm⁻¹) using a tunable diode laser spectrometer in conjunction with an astigmatic multi-pass cell and a pulsed supersonic slit jet. The spectra of both ²⁰Ne-N₂O and ²²Ne-N₂O isotopomers are assigned and analyzed using a Watson S-reduced asymmetric-rotor Hamiltonian. The rotational and centrifugal constants for the excited vibrational state are accurately determined. The band-origin of the spectrum is determined to be ν₀ = 1285.12251(18) cm⁻¹ for ²⁰Ne-N₂O and 1285.12363(27) cm⁻¹ for ²²Ne-N₂O, which shows a blue-shift of 0.21921 cm⁻¹ for ²⁰Ne-N₂O and 0.22033 cm⁻¹ for ²²Ne-N₂O from that of the N₂O monomer, respectively.     

The continuum absorption in H2O+N2 mixtures in the 2000-3250 cm spectral region at temperatures from 326 to 363 K

The absorption spectra of H₂O+N₂ mixtures, as well, as the spectra of pure gases, have been measured using a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer at a resolution of 0.1 cm⁻¹. The sample temperatures were 326, 339, 352, and 363 K. Water vapor pressures varied from 8 (60 torr) to 34.5 kPa (259 torr). The nitrogen pressure was kept constant at about 414 kPa (4.1 atm). The path length was 100 m. The continuum absorption coefficients obtained in the spectral range 2000-3250 cm⁻¹ (3.1-5 μm) do not depend significantly on temperature, as is predicted by the well known MT_CKD model. But there are significant deviations in the continuum spectral behavior and magnitude. Around 2050 cm⁻¹ the measured absorption coefficients C_f are about two times larger than those of the model. This deviation grows rapidly at shorter wave lengths, reaching a maximum of two orders of magnitude in the middle of the window at 2500 cm⁻¹. At this point, the deviation starts to decrease significantly and around 3100 cm⁻¹ our results are in agreement with the MT_CKD model. This behavior of the deviation is due to the broad and structureless feature in the region of the nitrogen fundamental band. Most likely, this feature is the N₂ fundamental band component, induced by collisions between H₂O and N₂ molecules. The data obtained and a comparison with the results from the other available sources are presented.     

Fourier transform emission spectroscopy of the EΠ-XΣ transition of CaH and CaD

The emission spectra of CaH and CaD have been recorded at high resolution using a Fourier transform spectrometer and bands belonging to the E²Π-X²Σ⁺ transition have been measured in the 20 100-20 700 cm⁻¹ region. A rotational analysis of 0-0 and 1-1 bands of both the isotopologues has been carried out. The present measurements have been combined with the previously available pure rotation and vibration-rotation data to provide improved spectroscopic constants for the E²Π state. The constants ΔG(½) = 1199.8867(34) cm⁻¹, B_e = 4.345032(49) cm⁻¹, α_e = 0.122115(92) cm⁻¹, r_e = 1.986633(11) Å for CaH, and ΔG(½)=868.7438(46) cm⁻¹, B_e = 2.212496(51) cm⁻¹, α_e = 0.036509(97) cm⁻¹, r_e = 1.993396(23) Å for CaD have been determined.     

CO2-broadened water in the pure rotation and ν2 fundamental regions

The CO₂-broadened water coefficients (half-widths, line shifts, and temperature dependence of the widths) are predicted using a fully complex Robert-Bonamy formulation for the 937 allowed and forbidden perpendicular type transitions of (000)-(000) between 200 and 900 cm⁻¹ in order to facilitate atmospheric remote sensing of Mars and Venus. In addition, empirical Lorentz line widths and pressure-induced frequency-shifts of CO₂-broadened H₂¹⁶O are obtained at room temperature for 257 perpendicular transitions of the (010)-(000) fundamental. For this, calibrated spectra recorded at 0.0054 cm⁻¹ resolution are measured assuming Voigt line shapes. For transitions between 1287 and 1988 cm⁻¹ with rotational quanta up to J = 13 and K_a = 6, the widths vary from 0.045 to 0.212 cm⁻¹ atm⁻¹ at 300 K; the pressure-shifts are quite large and range from −0.0386 to +0.0436 cm⁻¹ atm⁻¹. For the (010)-(000) band, the RMS and mean observed and calculated differences for CO₂-broadened H₂O half-widths are 12% and −1.9%, respectively, while the RMS and mean ratios of the observed and calculated pressure-induced shift coefficients are 1.6 and 0.79, respectively. For pairs of transitions involving K_a = 0 and 1, such as 2_0 2 ← 3_1 3 and 3_1 3 ← 2_0 2, both the calculated and observed pressure induced shifts in positions are opposite in sign and often similar in magnitude. The data are too limited to characterize vibrational dependencies of the widths, however.     

Quantitative measurement of integrated band intensities of benzene vapor in the mid-infrared at 278, 298, and 323 K

Pressure broadened (1 atm. N₂) laboratory spectra of benzene vapor (in natural abundance) were recorded at 278, 298, and 323 K, covering 600-6500 cm⁻¹. The spectra were recorded at a resolution of 0.112 cm⁻¹ using a commercial Fourier transform spectrometer. The pressure of each benzene vapor sample was measured using high-precision capacitance manometers, and a minimum of nine sample pressures were recorded for each temperature. The samples were introduced into a temperature-stabilized static cell (19.94(1) cm pathlength) that was hard-mounted into the spectrometer. From these data a fit composite spectrum was calculated for each temperature. The number density for the three composite spectra was normalized to 296 K. The spectra give the absorption coefficient (cm² molecule⁻¹, naperian units) as a function of wavenumber. From these spectra integrated band intensities (cm molecule⁻¹ and atm⁻¹ cm⁻²) for intervals corresponding to the stronger benzene bands were calculated and were compared with previously reported values. We discuss and quantify error sources and estimate our systematic (NIST Type-B) errors to be 3% for the stronger bands. The measured absorption coefficients and integrated band intensities are useful for remote sensing applications such as measurements of planetary atmospheres and assessment of the environmental impact of terrestrial oil fire emissions.     

D2O: ICLAS between 13 600 and 14 020 cm and normal mode labeling of the vibrational states

The high resolution absorption spectrum of dideuterated water, D₂¹⁶O, has been recorded by Intracavity Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (ICLAS) in the 13 600-14 020 cm⁻¹ spectral region which is the highest energy region reported so far for this water isotopologue. Because the HD¹⁶O absorption is stronger by three orders of magnitude in the region under study, it was necessary to use high deuterium enrichment in order to minimize the HD¹⁶O absorption lines overlapping the D₂¹⁶O spectrum. With the high sensitivity achieved (noise equivalent absorption α_min ∼10⁻⁹ cm⁻¹), transitions with line strengths on the order of 5 × 10⁻²⁸ cm molecule⁻¹ could be detected. The spectrum analysis, based on recent variational calculations has provided a set of 177 new rovibrational energy levels belonging to six vibrational states.The most complete set of 53 vibrational energy levels of D₂¹⁶O, including the three newly determined band origins, was constructed from an exhaustive review of the literature data. The fitting of the parameters of the vibrational effective Hamiltonian has allowed to reproduce the whole set of vibrational energies with an rms deviation of 0.055 cm⁻¹. This simple model gave consistent vibrational labels of the D₂¹⁶O states up to 18 000 cm⁻¹. Above 15 000 cm⁻¹, Fermi and Darling-Dennison resonance interaction were found to induce strong vibrational mixings of the wave functions in the normal mode basis, leading to ambiguous vibrational labeling.     

CW-cavity ringdown spectroscopy of carbon dioxide isotopologues near 1.5 μm

The absorption spectra of carbon dioxide in natural isotopic abundance and with 99% enrichment in ¹³C have been recorded by CW-cavity ringdown spectroscopy in two specific spectral regions: 5957-6122 and 6745-6833 cm⁻¹. The spectra were obtained at Doppler limited resolution by using a CW-CRDS spectrometer based on fibered DFB lasers. The typical sensitivity of 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm⁻¹, allowed for the detection of lines with intensity as weak as 5 × 10⁻²⁹ cm/molecule. More than 2900 line positions of the six major isotopologues contributing to the spectra (¹²C¹⁶O₂, ¹⁶O¹²C¹⁷O, ¹⁶O¹²C¹⁸O, ¹³C¹⁶O₂, ¹⁶O¹³C¹⁷O and ¹⁶O¹³C¹⁸O), were measured and assigned on the basis of their respective global effective Hamiltonian models. For comparison, only 507 lines are provided by the HITRAN database in these spectral regions. The band by band analysis has led to the determination of the rovibrational parameters of a total of 52 bands, 30 of them being newly reported. Most of the observed line positions show an agreement close to the experimental uncertainty (1-2 × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹) with the predictions of their respective effective Hamiltonian models. However, the quality of the predictions degrades for the minor isotopologues reaching maximum deviations of 0.35 cm⁻¹ in one specific case. For several bands, rovibrational transitions with J values between 60 and 90 could be newly detected. While an excellent agreement is observed with the line positions predicted by the Hamiltonian models, the comparison of these observations with the line positions listed in the HITRAN database or extrapolated by using the best FTS rotational constants available in the literature has evidenced significant deviations.     

Empirical line parameters of methane from 1.1 to 2.1 μm

To provide line parameters for the near-infrared methane spectrum, 35,306 line positions and intensities at room temperature were retrieved between 6180 and 9200 cm⁻¹, along with 4936 lines between 4800 and 5500 cm⁻¹. For this, laboratory absorption spectra were recorded at 0.010-0.022 cm⁻¹ resolution using the McMath-Pierce Fourier Transform Spectrometer located on Kitt Peak in Arizona. Positions were calibrated using CO transitions at 2.3 and 1.6 μm and H₂O lines at 1.9 and 1.3 μm. The minimum line intensity included was 3.7×10⁻²⁶ cm⁻¹/(molecule cm⁻²), and the combined sum of the intensities in these two intervals was 7.085×10⁻²⁰ cm⁻¹/(molecule cm⁻²) at 296 (±4) K. Quantum assignments from the literature were matched for 1% of the features, and a new methane database was compiled for the near-infrared.     

Coherence-converted population transfer FTMW-IR double resonance spectroscopy of CH3OD in the OD-stretch region

Rotationally selected infrared spectra of jet-cooled CH₃OD have been recorded and analyzed in the OD-stretch region (2710-2736 cm⁻¹). The observed spectra are obtained by monitoring three E-species microwave transitions (1₋₁ ← 1₀ at 18.957 GHz, 2₋₁ ← 2₀ at 18.991 GHz, and 3₋₁ ← 3₀ at 19.005 GHz) in a narrowband cavity Fourier transform microwave spectrometer, using the background-free coherence-converted population transfer technique. Of the four upper state subbands observed, two (K′ = 0 and −2) are split by perturbations. The E-species deperturbed band origin is at 2718.1 cm⁻¹. The deperturbed reduced term values follow a pattern similar to the ground state. This allows the J′ = 0 torsional tunneling splitting to be estimated as 2.1 cm⁻¹, which can be compared to 2.6 cm⁻¹ in the ground state.