NOVEL MAGNETIC-INTERACTIONS IN THE OPEN-SHELL NO-HF COMPLEX

The J' = 3/2 (f) - J '' = 1/2 (f) rotational transition of the open-sh ell van der Waals complex NO-HF has been observed using a Fourier tran sform microwave spectrometer. The transition shows a rich hyperfine st ructure due to coupling of the NO electronic spin and orbital angular momenta with the N nucleus and also with both the H and F nuclei in a novel intermolecular magnetic hyperfine interaction. The N hyperfine c oupling reveals the splitting of the II state degeneracy into A' and A '' states, with the A' state lower in energy. (C) 1998 Published by E lsevier Science B.V.