Vibrational predissociation spectroscopy of molecular clusters

Abstract

The vibrational spectra for a number of van der Waals and hydrogen‐bonded clusters have been obtained using a tunable infrared laser in the 2.5 to 4.0 μ range. The spectra were observed via vibrational predissociation in a molecular beam apparatus. The results permitted structural assignments to be made for Ar‐C2H4 and (HF)3. The dependence of the predissociation dynamics on structure, vibrational mode, molecular complexity and binding energy has been examined. No evidence for rapid (≲25 psec) predissociation or vibrational relaxation has been observed for binary complexes. However, there appears to be a rapid relaxation process for (HF)3.