Lifetime measurements on ArH and ArD
Abstract
We present results of lifetime measurements of rotational substates of the E 2Π state in the Rydberg molecules 40ArH and 40ArD. We find reasonable agreement between our result and theoretical predictions in the case of ArH. However, for ArD we obtain a distinctively longer lifetime than for the lighter isotopic molecule, ArH, which is not unusual for hydrides but is not accounted for by theory. In addition, different lifetimes measured for the Q and R,P-branch, respectively, emitting levels of the E 2Π state in ArD, give interesting insight into the interaction between excited Rydberg states of this molecule. The dependence of the lifetime of levels emitting the Q-branch on the rotational quantum number N for N≳19 is also investigated. Furthermore, the lifetime of the state(s) responsible for the continuous emission in the ultraviolet (UV) region was measured at discrete wavelengths for each of the molecules 40ArH and 40ArD. Our results, together with theoretical predictions, clearly favor the assignment of the UV continuum to two electronic states, namely B 2Π and E 2Π.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Chemical Physics
- Pub Date:
- June 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.464416
- Bibcode:
- 1993JChPh..98.9362W