HIGH-RESOLUTION SPECTROSCOPY OF TRANSIENT MOLECULES AND ITS APPLICATIONS TO MOLECULAR DYNAMICS

Three recent developments in the experimental methods for the study of transient molecules are discussed in some detail: (1) production of transient molecules, by either electric discharge or laser vaporization, in a supersonic jet incorporated in a Fourier–transform microwave spectrometer, (2) Fourier–transform microwave spectroscopy, and (3) kinetic spectroscopy. Among many results reported, the following molecules are mentioned as examples: hydrocarbon radicals (ethynyl CCH, vinyl C₂H₃, ethyl C₂H₅, propargyl C₃H₃, allyl C₃H₅), molecules with a carbon chain (HC₉N, C_nS with n = 3,4, C_nO with n = 2–9, HC_nO with n = 3, 4, HC_nS with n = 3, 4, HCCN, C₂N), FeCO, rare gas-OH complexes, and then accompanies implication of these and other studies to astronomy. Two types of applications of kinetic spectroscopy are added: O(¹D₂)+CH₄ reaction and diagnosis of the silane discharge plasma.