Knowledge Bank

A spectrometer that is capable of simultaneously probing a broad infrared spectral range, from $1360cm-1$ to $800cm-1$, while achieving a time resolution of one nanosecond has been constructed. The overall scheme is based on the work of Sorokin $et.al.1$. The IR probe source is generated by stimulated Raman scattering in a metal vapor. Broadband signal collection is facilitated by an infrared multichannel analyzer. The highest resolution obtained thus far is approximately. 5cm-1. The IR absorption spectra of several gas phase radicals have been obtained and the recombination rate constants have been determined. The application of the technique to the excited singlet and triplet states of molecules will be discussed.