Photoluminescence Spectroscopy of Diatomic Molecules.

Optical spectroscopy has been used to study laser spectrochemistry of Bi2 molecules. Molecular constants and new electronic states of Bi2, energy exchange between Bi2 and foreign gases, lifetimes of excited states, and chemical reactions between bismuth vapor and several oxidants have been measured. Two different types of apparatus, a flow furnance system and a heat pipe system were used for bismuth sources. Special attention has been given to reactions of bismuth with various oxidants in heat-pipe reactors. Preliminary surveys of reactions of aluminum and calcium with hydrogen containing molecules were made. A photon correlator which is a delayed coincidence device, has been constructed to measure lifetimes and time resolved spectra of a very weak signal. Capabilities of this device were successfully demonstrated by measurements of lifetimes of I2 in single rotational transitions. Some interesting new results were obtained in the laser photoluminescence of Ca2 in the heat-pipe. Author