Angular momentum rotational spectroscopy

The quasi-classical theory of spectral shape is justified for sufficiently high pressures, when the rotational structure is not resolved. For isotropic Raman spectra the corresponding criterion is given by inequality (3.2). At lower pressures the well-resolved rotational components are related to the quantum number j of quantized angular momentum. At very low pressure each of the components may be considered separately and its broadening is qualitatively the same as of any other isolated line in molecular or atomic spectroscopy. 

Temkin S. I., Thuet J. M., Bonamy L., Bonamy J., Robert D. Angular momentum and rotational energy relaxation in N2-N2 collisions calculated from coherent and stimulated Raman spectroscopy data,... 

In this section, we shall look at the way these various absorptions are analysed by spectroscopists. There are four kinds of quantized energy translational, rotational, vibrational and electronic, so we anticipate four corresponding kinds of spectroscopy. When a photon is absorbed or generated, we must conserve the total angular momentum in the overall process. So we must start by looking at some of the rules that allow for intense UV-visible bands (caused by electronic motion), then look at infrared spectroscopy (which follows vibrational motion) and finally microwave spectroscopy (which looks at rotation). 

R-type transition in spectroscopy. As a result of light absorption in this transition the difference A — J — J" between the quantum numbers of the angular momentum in excited (J ) and ground (J") state equals +1, and the angular momentum of the molecule increases. The transition with transition dipole moment d l at frequency u>o — fl corresponds to a diminution in the angular momentum of molecular rotation, and we have A = J — J" = — 1. Such a transition is called a P-type transition. 

Much of the beauty of high-resolution molecular spectroscopy arises from the patterns formed by the fine and hyperfine structure associated with a given transition. All of this structure involves angular momentum in some sense or other and its interpretation depends heavily on the proper description of such motion. Angular momentum theory is very powerful and general. It applies equally to rotations in spin or vibrational coordinate space as to rotations in ordinary three-dimensional space. 

Since the Raman effect involves two spin-one photons, the angular-momentum selection mle becomes A J = 0, 2. This gives rise to three distinct branches in the rotation-vibration spectra of diatomic and linear molecules the 0-branch (A / = —2), the Q-branch (A J = 0) and the S-branch (A J = - -2). All diatomic and linear molecules are Raman active. Raman spectroscopy can determine rotational and vibrational energy levels for homonuclear diatomic molecules, which have no infrared or microwave spectra. 

Centrifugal distortion - An effect in molecular spectroscopy in which rotational levels are lowered in energy, relative to the values of a rigid rotor, as the rotational angular momentum increases. The effect may be understood classically as a stretching of the bonds in the molecule as it rotates faster, thus increasing the moment of inertia. 

Rotational constants - In molecular spectroscopy, the constants appearing in the expression for the rotational energy levels as a function of the angular momentum quantum numbers. These constants are proportional to the reciprocals of the principal moments of inertia, averaged over the vibrational motion. 

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