Abstract
AS is well known, the hydrogen molecule (H2) has no ordinary dipole infra-red spectrum. Its quadrupole rotation-vibration spectrum is exceedingly weak, and has only recently been found1. In the case of HD, on account of the asymmetry, there is no longer a distinction between symmetric and antisymmetric rotational levels, and a dipole rotation-vibration spectrum can occur at least in principle. However, the change of dipole moment associated with the vibration of HD is obviously very small. The main contribution to this change is due to the fact that the electrons lag slightly behind the nuclei during the vibrational motion. Wick2 has calculated according to wave mechanics the intensity of the fundamental of HD. From his data it can be estimated that the minimum absorbing path required for an observation of the fundamental of HD is 30 m. atm. For the overtones, correspondingly longer pathlengths would be required.
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References
Herzberg, G., Nature, 163, 170 (1949); Can. J. Res., A, 28, 144 (1950).
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See Herzberg, G., Astrophys. J., 87, 428 (1938).
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HERZBERG, G. Rotation-Vibration Spectrum of the HD Molecule. Nature 166, 563 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1038/166563a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/166563a0
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