Millimeter-wave spectrum of BrCN produced by dc discharge

Ground state (v=0) and first excited state (v=1) millimeter-wave rotational absorption spectra of cyanogen bromide (BrCN) and some of its isotopic species, have been investigated in the frequency region: 40.0-75.0 GHz using a source-modulated millimeter-wave spectrometer. Millimeter-wave radiation has been produced using a frequency multiplier, the fundamental radiation source being klystrons. BrCN has been produced by applying a dc glow discharge through a mixture of 3-bromobenzonitrile and trifluoromethylbromide (CF₃Br) at low pressure. The quadrupole hyperfine structure of ⁸¹Br and ⁷⁹Br have been resolved, measured, and analyzed. Finally, internuclear distances of BrCN have been determined.