Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of 142NdO

Laser induced fluorescence spectra of (NdO)-Nd-142 have been excited using both fixed frequency argon ion and tunable ring dye lasers and detected at high resolution with a Fourier transform spectrometer. Nine low lying electronic states resulting from the Nd2+ (4f(3)6s)O2- configuration were detected of which four, the second lowest Omega = 2. 3, and 5 states, (2)2, (2)3, (2)5, and the lowest 0 = 6 state. (1)6, have been observed for the first time. In addition, new vibrational levels were observed in the lowest Omega = 5, (1)5 (c = 1) and second lowest Omega = 4, (2)4 (v = 1, 2) states. Abnormally large 0 doubling in both Omega = 2 states has been attributed to interactions involving neighboring Omega = 1 and 0 states. Several perturbations were observed and used as an aid in assigning some of the states. Both the order and energies of the low lying states have been shown to be consistent with Ligand Field theory calculations. Rotational relaxation in several of the spectra has allowed calculation of accurate rotational constants for several states whiled for other states, approximate parameters have been calculated from combination differences. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.