Knowledge Bank

High resolution laser spectra of HfF have been acquired in the visible region of the spectrum. The molecules were produced via laser ablation of a hafnium target rod, followed by reaction with $SF6$ in a pulsed supersonic jet. Several electronic transitions have been observed and analysed between 17,000 and $23,000cm-1$, all yielding an $\Omega \prime \prime =3/2$ ground state consistent with the $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}\Delta 3/2$ ground state of $HfCla$. Curiously, two electronic transitions at $19,707cm-1$ and $19,977cm-1$, which have both been assigned as $[\Omega \prime =1/2]-X[\Omega \prime \prime =3/2]$, exhibit $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}\Sigma -2\Pi$ structure. Work on this molecule is continuing and the results will be discussed.