Observation of quadrupole hyperfine structure in the v6 RQ3 (6) transition of 12CH335Cl

Quadrupole hyperfine structure has been observed in the v₆^RQ₃(6) transition of ¹²CH₃³⁵Cl using a stable CO₂ laser oscillating on the 9.4 μm P(26) line. By heterodyning this laser with another which is locked to the 4.3 μm fluorescence dip of the 00⁰1-00⁰ CO₂ transition, an accurate measurement of the hyperfine splittings has been made. The observed spectrum agrees, within experimental error, to the theoretical values evaluated without the need for a vibrational correction to the quadrupole interaction in the excited vibrational state. The hyperfine component closest to the center of the CO₂ P(26) transition is determined to be 5.6 ± 0.1 MHz from the P(26) line center.