DF and HF laser spectra in the infrared

A chemical laser was built to study, under high resolution, the infrared spectra of the DF/HF laser. The laser was a low power, pulsed type using sulfur hexafluoride and deuterium or hydrogen as the active gases. Vibrationally excited DF/HF was produced by the chemical reaction of D2/H2 and atomic fluorine. The fluorine was dissociated from SF6 by an electrical discharge. The laser and absorption data were combined with other available data from the literature to calculate a set of molecular constants for DF. Likewise, the HF laser data was used with other published HF data to determine a set of molecular constants for that molecule. In an attempt to ascertain the validity of the isotopic relationship, the spectra positions of the DF lines were predicted from the molecular constants calculated for HF. These values were then compared with the observed values of DF.