The Spin-Forbidden a 4Pi(Nu=13-15) and B 4Sigma(-)(Nu=3)<-X 2Pi(Nu=0) Bands of Nitric-Oxide - a New Scheme for Quantum State-Specific High-Resolution Kinetic-Energy Measurements

A new scheme for performing high-resolution kinetic energy measurements on single quantum states of NO is described. Laser excitation of the a (4) Pi(nu=13-15) and b 4 Sigma(-)(nu= 3)a emission. The sensitivity is compared to previous experiments on CO, employing the forbidden Cameron system. In the course of these experiments, three previously unknown vibronic levels of the a (4) Pi state were observed for which high precision molecular constants have been obtained. The derived molecular constants have been used to construct a chemically accurate RKR potential for the a (4) Pi state to within 0.2 eV of the dissociation limit. In addition, the electric dipole moments for the a (4) Pi(nu=13-14) levels have been determined. By comparing the experimental results with two ab initio calculations, the polarity of the dipole moment of the a (4) Pi State at equilibrium separation could be determined. A set of supplementary molecular beam laser-induced fluorescence studies on the b (4) Sigma(-)(v=3)