Abstract
We report the first direct observation of the vibration-rotation spectrum of the tin deuteride radical in its electronic ground state 2Π by infrared diode laser spectroscopy. The SnD radicals were produced using tetramethylstannane (Sn(CH3)4) and deuterium in a DC helium glow discharge. The isotopic structure, the lambda-type doubling and the hyperfine splitting due to the tin nucleus could be resolved. A set of molecular parameters for the ground state is given.