LIF STUDY OF THE B(1)SIGMA(--]X-3-SIGMA(-)(X(1)0(+),X(2)1) TRANSITIONS OF SBH AND SBD()(B0(+))[)

The b(1)Sigma(+)(b0(+)) <-> X(3)Sigma(-)(X(1)0(+), X(2)1) transitions of SbH and SbD have been studied by laser-induced fluorescence measure ments. Ground state SbH(SbD) radicals were generated in a fast-flow sy stem by reaction of microwave-discharged hydrogen (deuterium) with ant imony vapor. Vibrational levels nu = 0 and 1 of the b(1)Sigma(+) state were excited with a pulsed dye laser. In addition to five electric di pole branches R-S, P-Q, R-Q, (Q)Q, and P-O, weak magnetic dipole branc hes (P)Q were observed in the 0-0 bands of the b(1)Sigma(+) <-- X(3)Si gma(-) transitions. Rotational and vibrational constants of the X(3)Si gma(-) and b(1)Sigma(+) states were deduced from high-resolution excit ation spectra. Time-resolved measurements of the fluorescence decay an d measurements of relative line and band intensities allowed determina tion of the radiative lifetime of the b(1)Sigma(+) state of SbH (tau = 173 +/- 3 mu s) and of the electric and magnetic dipole transition mo ments mu(0) = +/-0.036 D, mu(1) = +/-0.058 D, \M\ = 1.62 Bohr magneton s. (C) 1998 Academic Press.