MARVEL analysis of the measured high-resolution rovibronic spectra of the calcium monohydroxide radical (CaOH)

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive set of highly accurate rovibronic energy levels for CaOH, derived from extensive spectroscopic data, aiding astrophysical detection, laser cooling, and fundamental physics tests.

Contribution

It presents the first complete, experimentally validated energy level dataset for CaOH's five lowest electronic states using the MARVEL analysis.

Findings

1955 energy levels determined from 3204 transitions

Coverage up to J=62.5 and below 29,000 cm$^{-1}$

Dataset supports astrophysics, laser cooling, and physics tests

Abstract

The calcium monohydroxide radical (CaOH) is an important astrophysical molecule relevant to cool stars and rocky exoplanets, amongst other astronomical environments. Here, we present a consistent set of highly accurate rovibronic (rotation-vibration-electronic) energy levels for the five lowest electronic states ($\tilde{X}\,^2\Sigma^+$, $\tilde{A}\,^2\Pi$, $\tilde{B}\,^2\Sigma^+$, $\tilde{C}\,^2\Delta$, $\tilde{D}\,^2\Sigma^+$) of CaOH. A comprehensive analysis of the published spectroscopic literature on this system has allowed 1955 energy levels to be determined from 3204 rovibronic experimental transitions, all with unique quantum number labelling and measurement uncertainties. The dataset covers rotational excitation up to $J=62.5$ for molecular states below 29\,000~cm$^{-1}$. The analysis was performed using the MARVEL algorithm, which is a robust procedure based on the theory of spectroscopic networks. The dataset provided will significantly aid future interstellar, circumstellar and atmospheric detections of CaOH, as well as assisting in the design of efficient laser cooling schemes in ultracold molecule research and precision tests of fundamental physics.