Renner Teller and Spin-orbit Perturbations in Triatomic Molecules

Abstract

Recent high resolution experimental studies of the electronic spectra of triatomic dihydrides and their ions have provided a severe test of current models of electronic orbital angular momentum-nuclear - vibrational angular momentum coupling. This coupling is associated with the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer separation of electronic orbital and nuclear motion, the Renner-Teller effect, and also with spin-orbit coupling.