arXiv subjects

Trevor J. Sears

Publications and source records attributed to Trevor J. Sears.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Rotational spectra and de-perturbation analysis for ground state ytterbium oxide, YbO

A combination difference analysis of Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy (FTMW) measurements of $^{174}$YbO combined with earlier near-infrared chemiluminescence data have resulted in much improved YbO rotational and centrifugal distortion constants. These have been confirmed in a multi-isotopologue analysis of further FTMW measurements of $^{172}$YbO and $^{176}$YbO and an analysis of nuclear-size-dependent Born-Oppenheimer breakdown effects in the molecule. Multiple excited electronic states overlap with low-lying excited vibrational levels of the electronic ground state leading to irregularities in its vibrational spacings and other previously observed electronic manifolds. This has been modeled with a matrix of the vibrational levels of the ground and multiple interacting states assuming Morse potentials and including electronic Hamiltonian matrix elements mixing the states. Vibrational level overlaps were calculated numerically assuming Morse vibrational wavefunctions. The resulting de-perturbed potentials for the states inform continuing experimental and theoretical work on this and other ytterbium-containing molecules.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2024

Rotational and Near-IR Spectra of PbF: Characterization of the Coupled $X_1\,^2Π_{1/2}$ and $X_2\,^2Π_{3/2}$ States

Observations of the rotational spectrum of lead monofluoride, PbF, have been extended up to transitions in the \textit{v} = 7 level for $^{208}$PbF in the lowest $X_1\,^2Π_{1/2}$ state of the radical and \textit{v} = 5 for the $^{207}$Pb and $^{206}$Pb isotopologues. The data also include a few measurements for $^{204}$PbF in \textit{v} = 0. These new measurements have been combined with existing near-IR measurements of the $X_2 - X_1$ fine-structure transition and a simultaneous multi-isotope fit of the data to an effective isotope-independent ro-vibronic Hamiltonian has been carried out. The resulting parameters fully characterize the vibrational, rotational and hyperfine structure of the combined $X_1 \, / \, X_2$ state of the radical. A pair of opposite parity levels with total angular momentum quantum number, $F=1/2$, in the lowest rotational level, $J=1/2$ of \PbF \,are close in energy and their spacing decreases with vibrational excitation. The experimental results show the spacing decreases to less than 20 MHz at $v=7$ and 8. The experimental work is complemented by new \textit{ab initio} calculations which support the results and allow predictions outside the experimental data range. The calculated radiative lifetimes of the relevant vibrationally excited states are of the order of 50 ms. This work was motivated by interest in using \PbF\, as a vehicle for future probes of the standard model of physics such as placing limits on the electron's electric dipole moment (\eEDM), molecular charge-parity non-conservation and Born-Oppenheimer breakdown effects for example.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2021

Re-evaluation of ortho-para-dependence of self-pressure broadening in the $v_1+v_3$ band of acetylene

Optical frequency comb-referenced measurements of self pressure-broadened line profiles of the R(8) to R(13) lines in the \thisband combination band of acetylene near 1.52$μ$m are reported. The analysis of the data found no evidence for a previously reported [Iwakuni et al. \textit{Phys. Rev. Letts.} \textbf{117}, 143902(5) 2016] systematic alternation in self pressure-broadened line widths with the nuclear spin state of the molecule. The present work brought out the need for the use of an accurate line profile model and a careful accounting for weak background absorptions due to hot-band and lower abundance isotopomer lines. The data were adequately fit using the quadratic speed-dependent Voigt profile model, neglecting the small speed-dependent shift. Parameters describing the most probable and speed-dependent pressure-broadening, most probable shift, and the line strength were determined for each line. Detailed modeling of the results of Iwakuni et al. showed that their neglect of collisional narrowing due to the speed-dependent broadening term, combined with the strongly absorbing data recorded and analyzed in transmission mode were likely the reasons for their results.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2020

The 1.66 $μ$m Spectrum of the Ethynyl Radical, CCH

Frequency-modulated diode laser transient absorption spectra of the ethynyl radical have been recorded at wavelengths close to 1.66 $μ$m. The observed spectrum includes strong, regular, line patterns. The two main bands observed originate in the ground $\tilde{X}\,^2Σ^+$ state and its first excited bending vibrational level of $^2Π$ symmetry. The upper states, of $^2Σ^+$ symmetry at 6055.6 cm$^{-1}$ and $^2Π$ symmetry at 6413.5 cm$^{-1}$, respectively, had not previously been observed and the data were analyzed in terms of an effective Hamiltonian representing their rotational and fine structure levels to derive parameters which can be used to calculate rotational levels up to J = 37/2 for the $^2Π$ level and J = 29/2 for the $^2Σ$ one. Additionally, a weaker series of lines have been assigned to absorption from the second excited bending, (020), level of $^2Σ$ symmetry, to a previously observed state of $^2Π$ symmetry near 6819 cm$^{-1}$. These strong absorption bands at convenient near-IR laser wavelengths will be useful for monitoring CCH radicals in chemical systems.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2020

Frequency measurements and self-broadening of sub-Doppler transitions in the $v_1+v_3$ band of C$_2$H$_2$

Frequency comb-referenced measurements of sub-Doppler laser saturation dip absorption lines in the $v_1+v_3$ band of acetylene near $1.5\,μ\mathrm{m}$ are reported. These measurements include transitions involving higher rotational levels than previously frequency measured in this band. The accuracy of the measured frequencies is typically better than 10 kHz. Measurements of the observed sub-Doppler line widths as a function of pressure showed that the self pressure-broadening coefficients are about 3.5 times larger than those derived from conventional pressure broadening of unsaturated Doppler-limited spectra. This is attributed to the contribution of velocity-changing collisions to the total dephasing rate in the low pressure sub-Doppler measurements. At higher pressures, when the homogeneous broadening becomes comparable to the typical Doppler shift per elastic collision, the velocity changing collisions cease to contribute significantly to the incremental pressure broadening. A time-dependent soft collision model is developed to illustrate the transition between low and high pressure regimes of sub-Doppler pressure-broadening.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2016

Quadrupole Splittings in the near-infrared spectrum of $^{14}$NH$_3$

Sub-Doppler, saturation dip, spectra of lines in the $v_1 + v_3$, $v_1 + 2v_4$ and $v_3 + 2v_4$ bands of $^{14}$NH$_3$ have been measured by frequency comb-referenced diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The observed spectral line widths are dominated by transit time broadening, but show resolved or partially-resolved hyperfine splittings that are primarily determined by the $^{14}$N quadrupole coupling. Modeling of the observed line shapes based on the known hyperfine level structure of the ground state of the molecule shows that, in nearly all cases, the excited state level has hyperfine splittings similar to the same rotational level in the ground state. The data provide accurate frequencies for the line positions and easily separate lines overlapped in Doppler-limited spectra. The observed hyperfine splittings can be used to make and confirm rotational assignments and ground state combination differences obtained from the measured frequencies are comparable in accuracy to those obtained from conventional microwave spectroscopy. One upper state level shows very clear differences from the expected splittings. Examination of the known vibration-rotation level structure shows there is a near degeneracy between this level in $v_1+v_3$ and a rotational level in the $v_1 + 2v_4$ manifold which is of the appropriate symmetry to be mixed by magnetic hyperfine terms that couple ortho- and para- forms of the molecule.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2016

The near-infrared spectrum of ethynyl radical

Transient diode laser absorption spectroscopy has been used to measure three strong vibronic bands in the near infrared spectrum of the C$_2$H, ethynyl, radical not previously observed in the gas phase. The radical was produced by ultraviolet excimer laser photolysis of either acetylene or (1,1,1)-trifluoropropyne in a slowly flowing sample of the precursor diluted in inert gas, and the spectral resolution was Doppler-limited. The character of the upper states was determined from the rotational and fine structure in the observed spectra and assigned by measurement of ground state rotational combination differences. The upper states include a $^2Σ^+$ state at 6696 cm$^{-1}$, a second $^2Σ^+$ state at 7088 cm$^{-1}$, and a $^2Π$ state at 7110 cm$^{-1}$. By comparison with published calculations (R. Tarroni and S. Carter, \textit{J. Chem. Phys} \textbf{119}, 12878 (2003) and \textit{Mol. Phys}. \textbf{102}, 2167 (2004)), the vibronic character of these levels was also assigned. The observed states contain both $X^2Σ^+$ and $A^2Π$ electronic character. Several local rotational level perturbations were observed in the excited states. Kinetic measurements of the time-evolution of the ground state populations following collisional relaxation and reactive loss of the radicals formed in a hot, non-thermal, population distribution were made using some of the strong rotational lines observed. The case of C$ _{2} $H may be a good place to investigate the behavior at intermediate pressures of inert colliders, where the competition between relaxation and reaction can be tuned and observed to compare with master equation models, rather than deliberately suppressed to measure thermal rate constants.

physics.chem-ph↗