DETECTION OF THE INFRARED-LASER SPECTRUM OF THE PO2 RADICAL IN THE GAS-PHASE

The infrared laser absorption spectrum of the PO2 free radical has bee n detected in the reaction of oxygen atoms with white phosphorus. Over 300 lines of the upsilon(3) fundamental band of the (2)A(1) ground st ate have been measured and assigned between 1300 and 1345 cm(-1). Rota tional, centrifugal distortion and spin-rotation constants for the ups ilon(3) = 1 level have been obtained from fitting the lines to an asym metric rotor Hamiltonian, with the ground state constants held at thei r microwave/laser magnetic resonance values. The band origin is 1327.5 3452(69) cm(-1).