FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED-EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY OF THE [6.7](2)SIGMA(-X-2-SIGMA(+) SYSTEM OF HFN())

The electronic emission spectrum of HfN has been observed in the near infrared using a Fourier transform spectrometer. HfN molecules were ex cited in a hafnium hollow cathode lamp operated with neon gas and a tr ace of nitrogen. The bands located near 5746, 5802, 6663, and 6715 cm( -1) have been assigned as the 0-1, 1-2, 0-0, and 1-1 bands of the [6.7 ](2) Sigma(+)-X-2 Sigma(+) transition. The rotational analysis of thes e bands has been performed and the equilibrium molecular constants for the lower electronic state of (HfN)-Hf-180 are omega(e) = 932.7164(15 ) cm(-1), omega(e)x(e) = 4.41299(65) cm(-1), B-e = 0.436217(18) cm(-1) , alpha(e) = 0.002659(11) cm(-1), and r(e) = 1.724678(36) Angstrom. We believe that the lower state of this transition is the ground electro nic state but more experimental and theoretical work is necessary to p rove this. Our work represents the first experimental observation of a n electronic transition of HfN. (C) 1997 Academic Press.