Infrared spectra of the Kr—CO and Xe—CO van der Waals complexes

Abstract

The infrared spectra of the weakly bound complexes Kr—CO and Xe—CO have been studied in the region of the CO stretching vibration (4.7 μm) using a high-resolution tuneable diode laser probe. The complexes were observed in a long path (200 m) low temperature (76 K) gas cell (Kr—CO) and in a pulsed supersonic jet expansion (Kr—CO and Xe—CO). Previous long path cell measurements on these complexes at lower resolution analysed only the K = 0 and 1 stacks of rotational levels in the ground intermolecular vibrational state. The new data extend up to K = 3 (Xe—CO) or 4 (Kr—CO), and also include K = 0 and 1 stacks in the excited bending state, ν₂ = 1. The bending frequencies for Kr—CO and Xe—CO (in the ν_co = 1 upper state) were determined to be 13.156cm₋₁ and 13.794cm⁻¹, respectively. Detailed molecular parameters were determined to describe the rotational energy levels of each complex using a simple empirical Hamiltonian. These results enable parameters to be compared for the entire series of rare gas—carbon monoxide complexes, from He—CO to Xe—CO. Also they will guide the future development and evaluation of accurate intermolecular potential energy surfaces for Kr—CO and Xe—CO.