Infrared Laser Spectroscopy of Jahn-Teller Active Radicals in a Supersonic Jet

在化学系物理化学计划的这个项目中，佛罗里达州立大学化学系的S.C.福斯特教授将对Jahn-Teller活性分子的高分辨率红外光谱进行一系列研究。一种新型的高频调制电晕激励超音速喷射放电将被用来产生感兴趣的物种。将研究甲氧基、硫代甲氧基和甲基硝基。虽然已经有很多关于多原子分子的转动-振动-电子光谱的研究，但涉及此类分子的自由基的研究相对较少。这类研究的缺乏通常是由于这些物种具有很大的反应性，因此在生产适合实验研究的足够数量的它们时遇到了困难。在被认为具有轴对称性的自由基物种中，情况往往并非如此。由于电子运动和某些振动模式之间的特殊相互作用，自由基偏离了预期的对称性。这被称为Jahn-Teller效应。本研究致力于Jahn-Teller活性分子的研究，旨在建立一个适合于开发合适的理论模型的数据库。

In this project in the Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. S.C. Foster of the Chemistry Department of Florida State University will conduct a series of investigations in the high resolution infrared spectroscopy of Jahn-Teller active molecules. A novel high frequency modulated corona- excited supersonic jet discharge will be used to produce the species of interest. The methoxy, thiomethoxy, and methyl nitrene radicals will be investigated. While there have been many investigations of the rotation-vibration-electronic spectra of polyatomic molecules, there have been relatively few which deal with the radicals of such molecules. This paucity of such investigations is generally due to the great reactivity of these species and thus the difficulties encountered in producing sufficient amounts of them suitable for experimental study. In radical species which are expected to possess axial symmetry this is often not the case. The radicals are distorted away from their expected symmetry due to a special interaction between the electronic motions and some of the vibrational modes. This is known as the Jahn-Teller effect. This research is devoted to the study of Jahn-Teller active molecules with the aim to establish a data base suitable for the development of appropriate theoretical models.