Molecular-beam infrared spectroscopy of the Ar–N2O van der Waals molecule

Abstract

The rotationally resolved vibration–rotation spectrum of the Ar–N₂O van der Waals complex in the ν₃ region of N₂O has been recorded by using absorption spectroscopy of a pulsed molecular beam. The band origin is shifted hypsochromically by 0.1509 cm^–1 compared to the monomer origin. Rotational constants and centrifugal distortion constants are reported for the ground and first excited vibrational states. Effective structures for the complex in these two states have been calculated and little change is observed on vibrational excitation. There is no evidence for rapid vibrational predissociation and a lower limit of 10^–9 has been determined for predissociation lifetime.