LABORATORY DETECTION AND PURE ROTATIONAL SPECTRUM OF VCl$^{+}$ BY VELOCITY MODULATION SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract

The pure rotational spectrum of VCl$^{+}$ has been measured using millimeter-wave direct absorption techniques incorporating velocity modulation for ion selection. This work is the first laboratory observation of this species. VCl$^{+}$ was created in an AC glow discharge of gas-phase VCl${4}$ and argon. Rotational transitions of the $^{35}$Cl and $^{37}$Cl isotopomers have been measured originating in four fine structure components of this ion, each which exhibit hyperfine structure arising from the $^{51}$V nuclear spin (I = 7/2). The current data suggest a $^{4}\Phi{r}$ or $^{4}\Delta_{r}$ ground state. Additional spectroscopic measurements are in progress and the latest results will be presented.