High resolution laser spectroscopy of rhodium monophosphide

Abstract

Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) spectra of gas-phase rhodium monophosphide, obtained at medium-resolution at the University of Victoria (UVic), have resulted in the assignment of 63 bands to eight different electronic transitions from seven Ω = 0+ states and one Ω = 1 state to the ground X1Σ+ state. Rotational analysis of high-resolution spectra of 16 of the bands from four of the band systems, [19.6]0+, [21.7]0+, [22.9]0+ and [23.4]0+–X1Σ+, obtained at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), yielded a ground state bond length, re = 1.999315(58) Å in good agreement with theoretical calculations. Analysis of a perturbation in the [22.9]0+–X1Σ+ (0, 0) band suggested a strong interaction between the [22.9]0+ v = 0 level and a very close lying Ω = 1 state. All the upper states that were rotationally analysed showed irregular variations with vibration of the vibrational separations, ΔGv+1/2, and the rotational constants Bv.