MILLIMETER-WAVE SPECTRUM OF POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE

Abstract

We have observed the pure rotational spectrum of gaseous KOH in the millimete-wave region. Our measurements of the $J = 8 \rightarrow 9, 10 \rightarrow 11, 11 \rightarrow 12,$ and $12 \rightarrow 13$ transitions are best interpreted in terms of a linear model. As many as 30 vibrational satellites have been assigned for a given rotational transition. The patterns of these satellites are qualitatively similar to those observed for RbOH and $CsOH^{1}$ in that the excited bending mode $(\nu_{2})$ has effective rotational constants less than $B_{0}$. Assignments were facilitated by the observation of resolvable splittings of $\Delta$ State doublets. Our value of $B_{0} = 8208.6 GH_{z}$ does not reproduce the previously reported $spectra.^{2}$ An alternative explanation of this data will be given.