INFRARED-LASER SPECTROSCOPY OF P2O

The P=O stretching fundamental, nu(3), of P2O has been observed using diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The P2O species was generated in situ in a multipass cell from the reaction of O atoms with white phosp horus vapor (P-4). These measurements significantly extend the prelimi nary observation of this species and in conjunction with the results o f microwave spectroscopy enable the rotational structure of the band t o be reliably assigned for the first time. The (01(1)1)<--(01(1)0) hot band is also weakly observed in this system, with many of the transiti ons having resolved l-type doubling. The observed data are fitted to s tandard models to determine the full range of rotational parameters. B and origins of 1277.6454(3) and 1274.8993(10) cm(-1) are obtained for the (001)<--(000) and (01(1)1)<--(01(1)0) bands, respectively. (C) 199 7 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(97)01037-4].