FOURIER-TRANSFORM SPECTROSCOPY OF THE Y-2-SIGMA(-X(2)PI(I) TRANSITIONOF CUO())

The Y-2 Sigma(+)-X(2) Pi(i) near-infrared electronic transition of CuO was observed at high resolution for the first time. The spectrum was recorded with the Fourier transform spectrometer associated with the M cMath-Pierce Solar Telescope at Kitt Peak. The excited CuO molecules w ere produced in a low pressure copper hollow cathode sputter with a sl ow flow of oxygen. Constants for the Y-2 Sigma(+) states of CuO are: T -0 = 7715.47765(54) cm(-1), B = 0.4735780(28) cm(-1), D = 0.822(12) x 10(-6) cm(-1), H = 0.46(10) x 10(-10) cm(-1), gamma = -0.089587(42) cm (-1), gamma(D) = 0.1272(79) x 10(-6) cm(-1) b(F) = 0.12347(22) cm(-1), and c = 0.0550(74) cm(-1). Improved X(2) Pi(i) constants are also pre sented. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.