Knowledge Bank

Laser excitation spectra of the $A2E\leftarrow X2A1$ system of calcium methoxide were recorded at the University of New Brunswick. $CaOCH3$ radicals were produced in a laser ablation source, using a 1.2 % mixture of methanol in He as a precursor. High resolution spectra were recorded in the range $15870-15985cm-1$ (F.W.H.M. 250 MHz) using a tunable, single-mode cw dye laser (CR $699+$ autoscan), operating with DCM dye. The spectra exhibit bands assigned to the two spin-orbit components of the origin band $A2E3/2\leftarrow X2A1$ and $A2E1/2\leftarrow X2A1$. Resolved J and K structures are observed, and tentatively assigned by comparison with synthetic spectra generated from a Hamiltonian given in the $literaturea$ and spectroscopic $databc$ available for the electronic ground state.