HIGH RESOLUTION JET COOLED CAVITY RINGDOWN SPECTROSCOPY OF THE $\tilde{A}$ STATE 3$^{1}_0$ BAND OF THE NO$_3$ RADICAL
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Date
2012
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Ohio State University
Abstract
The $^{2}$E$^{\prime\prime}\tilde{A}$ state of NO$_3$ is doubly degenerate and is therefore subject to Jahn-Teller (JT) distortion. In the $\tilde{A}$ state there are two JT active modes, $\nu_3$ and $\nu_4$ ($e^{\prime}$ stretch and in plane bend respectively). Theoretical work has predicted that the JT effect in the $\tilde{A}$ state should be quite strong and approach the static case (D$\geq$1) where the molecule is permanently distorted to a lower symmetry geometry. A moderate resolution spectrum of the $\tilde{A}$ state showed a feature that we tentatively assigned as the 3$^{1}_0$ band based on position and band contour. Using high resolution cavity ringdown spectroscopy we have now obtained a rotationally resolved spectrum of this band. The analysis of this band has been commenced using an oblate symmetric top Hamiltonian with spin-rotation terms. This analysis supports the assignment of this band to the a$_1^{\prime\prime}$ vibronic component of the 3$^{1}_0$ band. So far, the spectrum shows no evidence of a large geometric distortion of the molecule. Some lines appear to be split, as was previously observed in the 4$^{1}_0$ and 4$^{2}_0$ bands, and the possible sources of this splitting are being investigated.
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Author Institution: Laser Spectroscopy Facility, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210