Spectroscopic studies of the jet-cooled copper trimer

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Chem. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.445694· OSTI ID:5598079

Morse, M D; Hopkins, J B; Langridge-Smith, P R.R.; Smalley, R E

Gas phase spectroscopic studies of copper trimer are reported. A band system in the 5430--5225 A region has been assigned to Cu/sub 3/ and has been studied by resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy, spectroscopy by depletion through predissociation, and by radiation repopulation of excited vibrational states in a cold supersonic molecular beam. The spectrum fits well to a /sup 2/E''reverse arrow/sup 2/E' transition of a D/sub 3h/ molecule with both states undergoing Jahn--Teller distortions. In this interpretation, the excited state is well described by a weak Jahn--Teller effect, stabilizing the molecule at a configuration in which one Cu--Cu bond length differs from the others by 0.03 A, with a Jahn--Teller stabilization energy of 9 cm/sup -1/. The ground electronic state corresponds to a deep Jahn--Teller situation with the lowest vibronic levels trapped in the distorted configuration. The spectra indicate the tunneling splitting of the lowest vibrational levels in the ground state is 12 +- 7 cm/sup -1/. These assignments are based on measured vibrational band positions and may not be unique. Definitive determination of the copper trimer structure will require analysis of rotational fine structure which was unresolved with the laser sources available in this study.

• Research Organization: Rice Quantum Institute and Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251
• OSTI ID: 5598079
• Journal Information: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 79:11; ISSN JCPSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640302* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Atomic & Molecular Properties & Theory
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
COPPER
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ELEMENTS
IONIZATION
JAHN-TELLER EFFECT
METALS
MOLECULES
MULTI-PHOTON PROCESSES
SPECTRA
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VISIBLE SPECTRA