Analysis of rotational and hyperfine structure in holmium monoxide

Abstract

Abstract Doppler-limited laser excitation spectra have been recorded for six bands of HoO. For the 0-0, 0-1, and 1-1 bands of the [17.6]7.5− X 1 8.5 transition and the 0-0 band of [18.4]6.5− W 1 7.5 ( R branch only), the hyperfine structure is completely resolved. For the 0-0 bands of the [17.6]7.5− X 2 7.5 and [18.4]6.5− W 2 6.5 transitions, hyperfine structure is partially resolved and only at low J . Rotational and hyperfine analyses have been performed for all the transitions. The hyperfine structure is examined in detail and has provided information about the nature of the coupling mechanisms in the various electronic states. The hyperfine constants are used in conjunction with results of ligand field theoretical calculations to determine the individual hyperfine parameters for the 4 f and 6 s electrons. These parameters are compared with those of the free holmium ion in order to provide insight into the nature of the electron orbitals in the molecule.