The rotational spectrum of CN

摘要

The rotational spectrum of the molecular negative ion CN- has been detected in the laboratory at high resolution. The four lowest transitions were observed in a low pressure glow discharge through C2N2 and N-2. Conclusive evidence for the identification was provided by well-resolved nitrogen quadrupole hyperfine structure in the lowest rotational transition, and a measurable Doppler shift owing to ion drift in the positive column of the discharge. Three spectroscopic constants (B, D, and eQq) reproduce the observed spectrum to within one part in 10(7) or better, allowing the entire rotational spectrum to be calculated well into the far IR to within 1 km s(-1) in equivalent radial velocity. CN- is an excellent candidate for astronomical detection, because the CN radical is observed in many galactic molecular sources, the electron binding energy of CN- is large, and calculations indicate CN- should be detectable in IRC+10216-the carbon star where C6H- has recently been observed. The fairly high concentration of CN- in the discharge implies that other molecular anions containing the nitrile group may be within reach. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.