Variational calculations of the spectrum of both hot and room temperature w
ater vapor have led to a major increase in the number and scope of observed
vibration-rotation transitions that have full quantum number assignments.
The calculations are performed using high accuracy ab initio potential ener
gy surfaces. As demonstrated, it is also necessary to consider corrections
due to adiabatic effects, non-adiabatic effects and the relativistic motion
s of the electrons. The result of this work has been to double the number a
nd energy range of the measured energy levels for water. New energy levels
for the (010), (100), (020), (001), (110), (030), (011), (040), (050) and (
060) states are presented here. Analysis of these levels and the associated
transitions shows unanticipated features, including rotational difference
bands, and an absence of clustering. The prospects of observing quantum mon
odromy in the spectrum of water are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.
V. All rights reserved.