Knowledge Bank

Resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy has been used to study the diatomic molecule WC. A low resolution scan revealed a five member vibrational progression beginning at $17585cm-1$ with the $\nu 00$ transition. Analysis of this progression yielded a vibrational frequency of $\omega e\prime (184W12C)=752.6(4.9)cm-1$ and a bond length of $re\prime (184W12C)=1.747(4)\backslash AA$. In addition, several unassigned bands were rotationally resolved. Interestingly, all of the observed excited states have $\Omega \prime =2$. All of the rotationally resolved transitions were fit simultaneously to produce the best possible fit of the ground state. Assignment of these bands confirmed a ground state of $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">3</mrow>}\Delta 1$ from a $14\sigma 28\pi 415\sigma 24\delta 116\sigma 1$ configuration and determined the ground state as $r0\prime \prime (184W12C)=1.7143(2)\backslash AA$. Dispersed fluorescence studies to elucidate the ground and low-lying excited states will also be reported. These results on WC are compared to the results of studies on MoC and other transition metal carbides.