This thesis presents high-resolution spectra of supersonically-cooled organic radicals in\ the mid-infrared, the details and design of the instruments necessary to obtain the spectra,\ and the theory to understand the spectra and the larger context of the results. Specifically,\ four organic radicals are studied: singly-deuterated methyl radical (CH2D), phenyl radical\ (C6H5), hydroxymethyl radical (CH2OH), and ethynyl radical (C2H). All of the spectroscopic\ studies presented use an existing mid-infrared high-resolution spectrometer with a frequency\ precision of better than 10 MHz. The radicals are generated using a discharge to dissociate\ a neutral precursor and form the radicals. The discharge is localized at the orifice of a slit\ supersonic expansion, which cools the radicals to around 20 K and allows for sub-Doppler\ spectral resolution. In addition to the description of the existing spectrometer, the design,\ construction, and successful testing of a new, automated mid-infrared spectrometer is presented.\ The new spectrometer is based upon difference frequency generation of a scanning\ Ti:Sapphire laser and a single-frequency Nd:YAG laser to create high-resolution mid-infrared\ radiation. The new system speeds up data-taking by fully automating the scanning process.
CY - Boulder, CO DA - 2014-04 N2 -This thesis presents high-resolution spectra of supersonically-cooled organic radicals in\ the mid-infrared, the details and design of the instruments necessary to obtain the spectra,\ and the theory to understand the spectra and the larger context of the results. Specifically,\ four organic radicals are studied: singly-deuterated methyl radical (CH2D), phenyl radical\ (C6H5), hydroxymethyl radical (CH2OH), and ethynyl radical (C2H). All of the spectroscopic\ studies presented use an existing mid-infrared high-resolution spectrometer with a frequency\ precision of better than 10 MHz. The radicals are generated using a discharge to dissociate\ a neutral precursor and form the radicals. The discharge is localized at the orifice of a slit\ supersonic expansion, which cools the radicals to around 20 K and allows for sub-Doppler\ spectral resolution. In addition to the description of the existing spectrometer, the design,\ construction, and successful testing of a new, automated mid-infrared spectrometer is presented.\ The new spectrometer is based upon difference frequency generation of a scanning\ Ti:Sapphire laser and a single-frequency Nd:YAG laser to create high-resolution mid-infrared\ radiation. The new system speeds up data-taking by fully automating the scanning process.
PB - University of Colorado Boulder PP - Boulder, CO PY - 2012 EP - 281 TI - High Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy of Slit-Jet Cooled Radicals and Ions VL - Ph.D. ER -