Atlas of the absorption spectrum of nitric oxide (NO) between 1420 and 1250 Å

Abstract

This atlas presents the absorption spectrum between 1420 and 1250 Å of cold (−180 °C) nitric oxide gas, both 14N16O and 15N16O, photographed in first order of a 10.5 m vacuum spectrograph. The spectral region comprises the Rydberg series (s−, p−, d−, and f−) of the molecule, including their limits of v=0, 1, and 2 of the ground state of the ion NO+. In addition it shows some valence bands. To each band are assigned quantum numbers. The assignment is based on the detailed study of the fine structure of the bands, measured on spectral plates obtained in high order of the same instrument. Accurate numerical results of these measurements are tabulated for 140 molecular levels. A short survey on the NO absorption spectrum is given.