OPTICAL SPECTRA OF METAL NITRIDES

Abstract

The electronic spectra of the following transition metal nitrides have been observed in emission: $TiN^{1}$, $Zrn^{2}$, VN, $NbN^{3}$, TaN, and MoN. Salient features of the previously undiscussed molecules will be noted. A new electronic system has also been observed for AlN - the transition is $^{3}\Pi \rightarrow$ $^{3}\Pi$ with the violet degraded band head located at 5076 {\AA}. $\lambda$ doublets are observed in the $^{3}\Pi_{0}$ and $^{3}\Pi_{1}$ components starting at low J values and for the $^{3}\Pi_{2}$ component at high J values. The relationship between this system of AlN and the reanalyzed triplet and singlet systems of BN will be considered.