The ground state of silylidene (H2C=Si), the silicon analog of vinylidene, from stimulated emission pumping and wavelength-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

Abstract

The ground state vibrational energy levels of jet-cooled H2CSi and D2CSi have been studied by a combination of wavelength-resolved fluorescence and stimulated emission pumping (SEP) techniques. By taking advantage of the vibrational selection rules and Franck–Condon factors and selectively pumping upper state single vibronic levels, readily assignable low-resolution emission spectra were obtained. Higher resolution SEP spectra were recorded to give precise measurements of the vibrational band origins of many of the lower-lying vibrational levels. All of the vibrational frequencies, except for the Franck–Condon inactive CH asymmetric stretching mode, ν5, have been determined for both isotopomers. The CH2 rocking mode (ν6) is found to have a very low 263 cm−1 frequency in the ground state. The spectra are complicated by unexpected activity in the out-of-plane bending vibration.