Energy Levels of the Carbon Monoxide Molecule

Abstract

IN a recent letter to NATURE (vol. 117, p. 376, 1926), Dr. R. C. Johnson shows that the third positive carbon bands are related to those recently discovered by Cameron (Phil. Mag. (7) 1, p. 405, 1926), and that the final states of the Cameron bands are identical with the final states of the fourth positive carbon bands. As the fourth positive bands are known to belong to the neutral carbon monoxide molecule from Leifson's absorption experiments (Astro. Jour., 63, 73, 1926), Johnson concludes that Cameron's bands and the third positive bands also belong to the neutral carbon monoxide molecule. We have recently completed some experiments on the excitation of the carbon monoxide spectra by electron impacts which support the views of Johnson, and they enable us to extend the scheme of energy levels so that it includes all of the bands of carbon monoxide.