Normal vibrational modes in benzil crystals

A group-theoretical analysis of the vibrational spectrum of benzil crystals was carried out. The selection rules and normal coordinates were found. Raman scattering spectra of benzil single crystals were studied in polarized light within a broad temperature range from 100 K to the melting point (T _m=96°C). The experimental data were found to correlate with theory. The temperature dependences of the spectral-line half-widths were used to separate the observed vibrations into translational and librational modes, and the correspondence between the experimentally observed vibrations and their normal coordinates was established in some cases.