Knowledge Bank

The pure rotational spectrum of VCl$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">+</mrow>}$ has been measured using millimeter-wave direct absorption techniques incorporating velocity modulation for ion selection. This work is the first laboratory observation of this species. VCl$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">+</mrow>}$ was created in an AC glow discharge of gas-phase VCl$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">4</mrow>}$ and argon. Rotational transitions of the $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">35</mrow>}$Cl and $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">37</mrow>}$Cl isotopomers have been measured originating in four fine structure components of this ion, each which exhibit hyperfine structure arising from the $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">51</mrow>}$V nuclear spin (I = 7/2). The current data suggest a $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">4</mrow>}\Phi r$ or $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">4</mrow>}\Delta r$ ground state. Additional spectroscopic measurements are in progress and the latest results will be presented.