HYDROGEN DIMER FEATURES IN THE 2-MU-M SPECTRA OF SATURN AND NEPTUNE

We report the detection of the (H-2)(2) dimer in the atmospheres of Sa turn and Neptune based on spectra of the fundamental S-1(1) collision- induced band of H-2. The lines of this dimer are potentially useful fo r probing the (H-2)(2) ortho-parr ratio and its implications for atmos pheric dynamical processes. We also report the detection of the (1-0) S-1(1) quadrupole absorption line of monomeric H-2 in these spectra. ( C) 1997 Academic Press.