Jet-cooled laser-induced dispersed fluorescence spectroscopy of NiC: Observation of low-lying Ω = 0+ state

Abstract

Laser-induced dispersed fluorescence spectra of 58Ni12C molecules, produced in a free-jet apparatus, have been studied. A new low-lying Ω=0+ state has been observed at Te=5178 (6)cm−1. Based on previous ab initio calculations this state is plausibly assigned as 0+ spin–orbit component of the first excited 3Π state. The term energies of vibrational levels up to v=10 for X1Σ+ ground and v=3 for Ω=0+ states have been determined. The harmonic and anharmonic wavenumbers respectively equal to 833 (4) and 6.7 (13)cm−1 for Ω=0+ state have been measured.