Ground-State Inversion Spectrum of N14D3

Abstract

The inversion spectrum of N¹⁴D₃ has been investigated between 1500 and 1620 mc/sec. A revised formula for the rotational fine structure was obtained to fit 17 observed lines. Splitting of K = 3 lines into two components was found in good agreement with predicted values. Nitrogen satellites were observed and the values (eQq)_N = 4080–3 kc/sec and α = 2±2 kc/sec were assigned to the nitrogen quadrupole and magnetic coupling constants, respectively. Hyperfine structure due to removal of the K degeneracy was observed in K = 1 lines. Applying the theory of Hadley, calculated and observed line contours were brought into agreement. Assuming cylindrical symmetry about bonds, the value (eQq)_D = 200±20 kc/sec was obtained for the deuteron quadrupole coupling constant. A value ε = 1.9±0.5 kc/sec was obtained for the magnetic coupling constant between deuteron spins and molecular rotation.