In this project in the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. Heaven will study the electronic spectra of open-shell van der Waals molecules. Such studies should help understand collisional processes involving atoms or molecules having unpaired electrons. High resolution electronic spectra will be obtained for several prototype molecules consisting of diatomic radicals and a noble gas atom such as neon or argon. Molecular constants derived from these spectra will be used to determine potential energy surfaces for the electronically excited and ground states. Electronic and vibrational predissociation rates will be measured for excited states, and calculations of these rates will be made based on experimentally derived potential energy surfaces.
