Experimental 2CH excitation in acetylene-containing van der Waals complexes

Abstract

Spectroscopic results are presented concerning the 2CH excitation around 1.5 µm in van der Waals complexes of acetylene (C₂H₂) with Ar, Kr, N₂, CO₂, N₂O and C₂H₂. Many are reviewed from the literature, with some updates. Previously unpublished results are also presented, concerning the mechanism of formation of C₂H₂–Ar in the supersonic jet, the assignment of new spectral structures in C₂H₂–N₂O, and the first observation of 2CH excitation in C₂H₂–Ne, C₂H₂–H₂O, C₂H₂–D₂O and (C₂H₂) _n . Lifetimes of these 2CH vibrationally excited dimers are discussed.

Keywords:

• van der Waals complexes
• acetylene
• overtone spectroscopy
• supersonic expansion
• cavity ring-down spectroscopy

Acknowledgments

We thank the following people (cited in alphabetical order) for collaborating on various aspects of the work presently reviewed: Dr. P. Čermák (Lille and Bratislava), Dr. L. Coudert (Paris-Est), Dr. J. Demaison (Lille), Professor R. Georges (Rennes), Dr. W.J. Lafferty (Gaithersburg), Professor C. Leforestier (Montpellier), Dr. P. Macko (ULB and now JRC Ispra research center), Dr. A. Perrin (Paris-Est), Professor R.J. Saykally (Berkeley), Dr. C. Western (Bristol), and also, from ULB, X. de Ghellinck d’Elseghem Vaernewijck, B. Kizil, A. Rizopoulos, P. Van Poucke, and Dr. J. Vander Auwera.

Financial support along the years from EU, ULB, FRS-FNRS and the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (ARC project) is acknowledged.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

K. Didriche

first authors in alphabetic order. FRS-FNRS postdoctoral fellow.

T. Földes

first authors in alphabetic order. AGACC postdoctoral fellow.

C. Lauzin

first authors in alphabetic order.

D. Golebiowski

FRIA PhD student.