UV and IR absorption spectra of C3 embedded in solid para-hydrogen

This paper presents the UV and IR absorption spectroscopy of small carbon molecules of C-3 observed using a high-resolution Fourier-transform spectrometer. The C-3 molecules were produced by irradiation of dimers or larger clusters of acetylene with an ArF laser (lambda = 193 nm). Sharp UV absorption features with multiple structures were observed in the (A) over tilde (1)Pi(u) <-- (X) over tilde (1)Sigma(g)(+) electronic transition of C-3. The sharp UV absorption demonstrates the potential of solid para-hydrogen as a matrix for high-resolution spectroscopy of UV-vis electronic transitions. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.