The argon–hydrogen fluoride binary complex: An example of a long lived metastable system

Abstract

The optothermal laser–molecular beam method has been used to measure the infrared spectrum of Ar–HF [10°0←00°0]. The results show that the vibrational predissociation lifetime of this complex is greater than the flight time of the molecules from the laser crossing region to the bolometerdetector. This gives a lower limit on the lifetime of 3×10− 4 s! The upper vibrational statedipole moment has also been obtained for the complex (μ1=1.495 D) by carrying out infrared stark spectroscopy. This corresponds to a 12% increase in the dipole moment upon vibrational excitation. This change can be related to a stiffening of the van der Waals bond, and hence a reduction in the amplitude of the bending motion, in the vibrationally excited state.