Lifetime broadening in the gas phase B∼2Π← X∼2Π electronic spectrum of C 8H
Abstract
The origin band of the B∼2Π3/2← X∼2Π3/2 electronic transition of linear C 8H was recorded in a planar supersonic expansion by a cw cavity ring-down spectrometer. The C 8H radical was produced using a discharge through a C 2H 2/He mixture inside a pulsed slit nozzle. Despite the fact that the resolution of the spectrometer is 350 MHz, which is 3-4 times higher than the separation of rotational lines in this band, the rotational structure was not resolved. It is concluded that the rotational lines are broadened by rapid radiationless transitions from the excited electronic state. Simulations of the spectrum give an estimate of 0.8 cm -1 Lorentzian linewidth which corresponds to ∼7 ps lifetime in the excited B∼2Π3/2 electronic state.
- Publication:
-
Chemical Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- December 2003
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.cplett.2003.10.092
- Bibcode:
- 2003CPL...382..245B