A NEWLY DESIGNED MOLECULAR-BEAM FOURIER-TRANSFORM MICROWAVE SPECTROMETER IN THE RANGE 1-4 GHZ

We report on a new design for a Fourier transform microwave spectromet er in the spectral region 1-4 GHz, specially constructed for the inves tigation of rotational spectra of heavy van der Waals complexes. In co ntrast to the commonly known molecular beam spectrometers using a Fabr y-Perot resonator working with TEM(00q) modes, the proposed design emp loys a different type of resonator operating with TE(01q) modes. This resonator allows for compact dimensions even at cut-off wavelengths ab ove 0.1 m. Details of the design, performance data, and example spectr a of stable molecules and complexes are given. (C) 1996 American Insti tute of Physics.