Abstract

In order to test simple atom-in-molecule concepts in the theory of the electronic structure of transition metal monohydrides and monohalides it is necessary to extract key electronic properties from the spectra of these molecules. Unfortunately, the spectra of diatomic molecules containing an atom with a partially filled d-shell are complex. Consequently, it is desirable to develop spectroscopic techniques and strategies whereby spectra can be simplified and rapid generation of diagnostically important spectral information is possible. Sideband optical-optical double resonance-Zeeman spectroscopy (SOODRZ) is one such technique. SOODRZ is one-laser, two-color, absorption-based technique which presents sub-Doppler Zeeman splittings in a simple, diagnostically useful format. Unlike other sub-Doppler techniques where complex Zeeman splitting patterns obscure the tuning coefficients of either the upper state or lower state, in SOODRZ, only two Zeeman resonance features (single upper and single lower state resonance) are observed. The Zeeman information (J, Q-dependent Zeeman tuning coefficients) can then be used for rotational and electronic assignment, we will illustrate the usefulness of SOODRZ by showing examples from the electronic spectrum of NiH. We will also discuss the lineshape and sensitivity of SOODRZ for a variety of detection schemes using both electro-optic and acousto-optic modulators.

© 1990 Optical Society of America