VUV-synchrotron absorption studies of N$_2$ and CO at 900 K

TL;DR

This study provides high-resolution VUV absorption spectra of N₂ and CO at 900 K, enabling precise analysis of excited states, perturbations, and interactions relevant for astrophysical and planetary atmospheric modeling.

Contribution

It presents the first high-temperature, high-resolution spectra of N₂ and CO, including detailed analysis of state interactions and validation of a coupled-channels model.

Findings

Precise line wavelengths and oscillator strengths determined.

Observation of perturbations and forbidden state interactions.

Validation of a coupled-channels model for N₂.

Abstract

Photoabsorption spectra of N$_2$ and CO were recorded at 900K, using the vacuum-ultraviolet Fourier-transform spectrometer at the DESIRS beamline of synchrotron SOLEIL. These high-temperature and high-resolution measurements allow for precise determination of line wavelengths, oscillator strengths, and predissociative line broadening of highly-excited rotational states with $J$ up to about 50, and also vibrational hot bands. In CO, the perturbation of $A\,{}^1\Pi-X\,{}^1\Sigma^+$ vibrational bands $(0,0)$ and $(1,0)$ were studied, as well as the transitions to perturbing optically-forbidden states $e\,{}^3\Sigma^-$, $d\,{}^3\Delta$, $D\,{}^1\Delta$ and $a'\,{}^3\Sigma^+$. In N$_2$, we observed line shifts and broadening in several $b\,{}^1\Pi_u-X\,{}^1\Sigma^+_g$ bands due to unobserved forbidden states of ${}^3\Pi_u$ symmetry. The observed state interactions are deperturbed and, for N$_2$, used to validate a coupled-channels model of the interacting electronic states. This data is appropriate for use in astrophysical or (exo-)planetary atmospheric applications where high temperatures are important and in future spectroscopic models of these molecules.