Fourier transform infrared spectrum of the ν3 band of HCO

The ν₃ fundamental band of the formyl radical, HCO, in the 5.3-μm region has been observed at high resolution (0.0025 cm⁻¹, unapodized) using a Fourier transform spectrometer. The HCO radicals were formed by the reaction of F atoms with H₂CO in a fast-flow multiple-traversal absorption cell. A total of 298 lines were measured with an accuracy of about 0.0004 cm⁻¹ and assigned to transitions with values of the rotational quantum numbers N and K_a up to 20 and 5, respectively. These data greatly improve the knowledge of the HCO ν₃ line positions and (v₁v₂v₃) = (001) vibrational state molecular parameters as compared to earlier laser magnetic resonance studies of this band, especially for higher values of N. The ν₁ fundamental band of HCO was also observed and an analysis of these data agrees well with the recent study of Dane et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 88, 2121–2128 (1988)].