HIGH RESOLUTION INTRACAVITY LASER SPECTRA OF NICKEL HYDRIDE

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Electronics, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO 63121-4499; Department of Chemistry, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1652The visible electronic spectrum of the nickel hydride (NiH) is recorded with rotational resolution by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ILS). A dye laser based ILS system is used to record the spectra. The gas phase NiH molecules were produced in an electric discharge using a nickel hollow cathode in a pure hydrogen atmosphere at 2-3 torr total pressure. Transitions are observed from the v=0 X $^{2}\Delta_{5/2}$ state to various vibrational levels of several excited states, including the A $^{2}\Delta_{5/2}$, B $^{2}\Delta_{5/2}, $^{2}\Delta_{3/2},$ and $^{2}\Phi_{7/2}$ states. Peak positions for the NiH isotopomers will be presented for transitions involving these levels