FLUORESCENCE EXCITATION AND RESOLVED EMISSION-SPECTRA OF SUPERSONICALLY COOLED AL2O

The triatomic oxide Al2O was prepared by oxidation of laser vaporized aluminum, or by direct vaporization of aluminum oxide, and detected by laser induced fluorescence. The fluorescence excitation and resolved emission spectra of a transition located near 38 249 cm-1 are consistent with a linear, centrosymmetric Al-O-Al structure. Analysis of the spectrum yields an AlO bond length of 0.164 nm and values of 525 (SIGMA-g+), 99 (PI-u), and 992 cm-1 (SIGMA-g+) for the ground state fundamental vibrations, in good agreement with theoretical predictions.