Empirical low energy values for methane transitions in the 5852-6181 cm-1 region by absorption spectroscopy at 81 K.

The high resolution absorption spectrum of methane has been recorded at liquid nitrogen temperature by direct absorption spectroscopy between 1.62 and 1.71 pm (5852-6181 cm(-1)) using a newly developed cryogenic cell and a series of distributed feedback (DFB) laser diodes. The minimum value of the measured line intensities is on the order of 3 x 10(-2)6 cm/molecule The investigated spectral range corresponds to the high energy part of the tetradecad dominated by the 2 nu(3) band for which a theoretical treatment is not yet available. The positions and strengths at 81 K of 2187 transitions were obtained from the spectrum analysis. From the values of the line strength at liquid nitrogen and room temperatures, the low energy values of 845 transitions could be determined. The obtained results are discussed in relation with the previous work of Margolis and compared to the line list provided by the HITRAN database. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.