Doublet-->quartet transitions in nitric oxide as detected by electron-impact spectroscopy

Vibronic bands in NO are investigated using electron beam excitation. The beams had energies of 25, 35, and 50 eV

Singlet→triplet transitions in C≡N containing molecules by electron impact

The electron-impact excitation spectra of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), acetonitrile (CH3CN), malononitrile [CH2(CN)2], propionitrile (C2H5CN), and butyronitrile (C3H7CN) have been studied experimentally at impact energies of 25, 50, and 75 eV and at scattering angles from 5° to 80°. Results for hydrogen cyanide are in excellent agreement with previous work. Previously unobserved singlet-->triplet transitions of acetonitrile, propionitrile, and butyronitrile are reported. Also, the first study of the electronic spectrum of malononitrile is reported. Tentative assignments for transitions observed are reported

Electronic spectroscopy of UF6 and WF6 by electron impact

The electron-impact excitation spectra of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) and tungsten hexafluoride (WF6) have been studied experimentally at impact energies of 30, 50, and 75 eV and at scattering angles from 5° to 80°. Eleven features in UF6 are observed with maxima at 3.26, 4.2, ~4.7, 5.8, 7.0, 7.86, 9.26, 11.01, 11.75, 12.5, and 13.2 eV. Four features in WF6 are observed with maximum intensity at 7.25, 7.9, 8.5, and 9.85, in good agreement with optical work. In addition, three previously unobserved features in WF6 at 11.75, 12.6, and 13.5 eV are reported. Similarity between the spectra of UF6 and WF6 suggests that the primary contribution to the absorption intensity in UF6 above 5.8 eV and in WF6 results from charge transfer transitions from fluorine p orbitals to metal d orbitals. Tentative assignments based in part on recent theoretical studies are made

Electronic Transitions of Molecules by Electron Impact and Multiphoton Ionization Spectroscopy

The experimental work discussed in this thesis is concerned primarily with the detection of electric dipole forbidden transitions of molecules in the gas phase. The thesis is divided into two parts. The first part describes measurements made using the technique of low-energy, variable-angle, electron impact spectroscopy. The second part describes investigations performed using resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy. The low-energy variable-angle electron impact technique has been used to study the electronic spectroscopy of molecules. Both dipole allowed and dipole forbidden transitions have been investigated. Transitions having excitation energies from 0 eV to 20 eV have been studied using incident electron beam energies ranging from 25 eV to 75 eV and scattering angles from 0° to 80°. Molecules studied included nitric oxide (NO), uranium hexafluoride (UF6), tungsten hexafluoride (WF6), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), acetonitrile (CH3CN), propionitrile (C2H5CN), butyronitrile (C3H7CN), and malononitrile (CH2(CN)2). Weak structure was observed in the spectrum of nitric oxide between 5.22 eV and 5.60 eV. These bands have been assigned as vibronic bands belonging to the X2π → a4π transition. Additional structure extending from 5.7 eV to about 7 eV was assigned to the X2π → b4Σ- transition. Several higher lying transitions were observed which have been tentatively assigned as doublet → quartet in nature. In order to elucidate the electronic structure of uranium hexafluoride the electron impact spectra at UF6 and WF6 were determined. Eleven features were observed in UF6 with intensity maxima at 3.26, 4.2, 4.7, 5.8, 7.0, 7.86, 9.26, 11.01, 11.75, 12.5 and 13.2 eV. Features were observed in the spectrum at 7.25, 7.9, 8.5, 9.85, 11.75, 12.6 and 13.5 eV. Comparison of the spectra indicate that the primary contribution to transition intensity in UF6 above 5.8 eV and in WF6 results form charge transfer excitations from fluorine p orbitals to metal d orbitals. Tentative assignments based on previous theoretical studies are made. A previously unreported doublet → quartet transition was observed at 4.49 eV in the electron impact spectrum of NO2, in excellent agreement with theoretical calculations. Doublet → doublet transitions were observed with maxima at 2.95, 5.81, 7.48, 8.64, 9.69, 10.52, 10.68, 10.94 and 11.20 eV in agreement with previous studies. The series of C Ξ N containing molecules, Aydrogen cyanide, acetonitrile, malononitrile, propionitrile and butyronitrile, have also been studied using the electron impact technique. Results for hydrogen cyanide are in excellent agreement with previous work. Previously undetected singlet → triplet transitions of acetonitrile, propionitrile and butyronitrile are reported. In addition the first study of the electronic spectrum of malononitrile is reported. Two appendices to Part One are included. The first of these reports the results of generalized valence bond and configuration interaction studies of the low lying states of ammonia. The second appendix discusses an electron impact study of the electronically excited states of 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene. Part Two of this thesis describes the theory of multiphoton ionization and reports results obtained using this technique. The application of REMPI spectroscopy to the detection of spin forbidden transitions is examined. It is shown in a study of the X1Σ+g → a3A2 state of CS2 to offer potential for the detection of spin forbidden transitions at high resolution and with great sensitivity. Finally a preliminary study of the two-photon resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization of p-xylene is reported. Several elements of the X1Ag → 1B2u transition observed previously in benzene and p-difluorobenzene are reported.</p