Schumann—Runge Bands of O2 in Solid Phases: Spectroscopic Measurement of Intermolecular Potentials

Abstract

The absorption spectra of oxygen in solid solution in nitrogen and argon have been investigated in the spectral region of the Schumann—Runge bands. Eleven discrete bands have been measured in each case. The vibrational structure is very similar to that of the free molecule for low vibrational quantum numbers of the excited electronic state but the spacings deviate considerably from those of the gas for higher quantum numbers, inasmuch as their convergence is slower. Potential curves have been constructed from the data for the oxygen molecule perturbed by the solid solvent cage. The deviations of these curves from those of the free molecule have been analyzed in terms of oxygen—argon and oxygen—nitrogen pair repulsive potentials.