Collision–induced absorption in gaseous methane at low temperatures

Abstract

A recently developed theory for collision-induced absorption in methane is compared with experimental results over a wider spectral range and at lower temperatures than previously reported. The present experimental results covering the frequency range below 400 cm−1 exhibit good agreement with other recently published data. The theory shows excellent agreement with experiment in the low-frequency region below approximately 200 cm−1 but underestimates the experimental data somewhat at higher frequencies. Possible theoretical reasons for this discrepancy are given. The theory represents a simple method of obtaining a good estimate of the collision-induced absorption spectra of methane in this frequency region and for extrapolating to lower temperatures for which experimentation is not feasible. In addition, the moments α1 and γ1are compared with earlier determinations and indicate good agreement with the previously obtained values for the octupole and hexadecapole moments of methane.