Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of jet-cooled ThO

• Published in: Journal of molecular spectroscopy 2019-06, Vol.360 (C), p.39-43
• Main Authors: Schmitz, Joel R., Kaledin, Leonid A., Heaven, Michael C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-2852; 1096-083X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jms.2019.04.010

Highest occupied molecular orbital and RKR potential energy curve for the ground electronic state of ThO. [Display omitted] •New vibronic levels of ThO have been characterized.•The O′-X and L′-X transitions have been observed for the first time.•A potential energy curve has been determined for the ground state.•The results support a ligand field model for the electronic structure of ThO. Non-equilibrium ThO(X) that was vibrationally hot but rotationally cold was produced by pulsed laser vaporization followed by supersonic expansion. This source was ideal for spectroscopic investigations of vibrationally excited levels of both the ground and electronically excited states. Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to characterize vibrationally excited levels of the X, C, D, E, F and I states. Data for the ground state have been used to determine the potential energy curve for the energy range 0–13000 cm−1. In addition, transitions to newly identified states O′(0+) and L′(1) are tentatively assigned. The results are found to be in reasonable agreement with the predictions of ligand field theory models.