Knowledge Bank

The IR absorption band of propane centered near $748cm-1$ has been studied using the high resolution FT instrument at Kitt Peak $(△\nu =0.005cm-1)$ and a tunable diode laser spectrometer (Doppler limited). This is the first study of propane in which individual vibration-rotation lines have been observed. A complete asymmetric rotor analysis of this C-type band has been undertaken and molecular constants for both ground and upper states will be reported. New ground state microwave data taken by Mark Allen at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory has also been included in our analysis and helped provide high accuracy ground state parameters and energy levels. The results of this work are being used for the interpretation of the propane features observed by Voyager in the IR spectra of the atmosphere of Titan.