THE A3-SIGMA-U-]X1-SIGMA-G+(X0G+) TRANSITION OF BI2((A11U))

The a3 SIGMA(u)+ (a11u) --> X1 SIGMA(g)+ (X0g+) near-infrared transiti on of Bi2, which was recently observed in the thermal emission spectru m of bismuth vapor by Barrow et al. (Chem. Phys. Lett. 214, 293-296, 1 993), has been found in the spectrum of the chemiluminescence from the reaction of bismuth vapor and microwave-discharged oxygen in a fast-f low system. The spectrum consisting of 21 short sequences of red-degra ded bands was measured at high resolution with a Fourier-transform spe ctrometer. Vibrational and rotational analysis of the bands have yield ed molecular constants of the a11u and X0g+ states which are in good a greement with the data of Barrow et al. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.