$N^{14}$ QUADRUPOLE COUPLING CONSTANTS IN $N_{2}O$ BY HIGH-RESOLUTION MICROWAVE SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract

The $J = 1\leftarrow 0$ microwave transition of $^{14}N_{2}O$ has been investigated under high resolution. Analysis of the hyperfine structure has given the values of the quadrupole coupling constants of the two nitrogen nuclei, viz., $\chi_{end}=-0792\pm 0.005$ MHz and $\chi_{central}=-0238\pm 0.005$ MHz. It was necessary to include spin-rotation energy terms in the treatment. Although it was not possible to determine the spin-rotation constants of each nitrogen nucleus unambiguously, a value of $M = -0.003\pm 0.001$ MHz was obtained by assuming the spin-rotation constants of the $N^{14}$ nuclei to be identical. Some discussion will be given to relate these results to other molecular properties.