Infrared Helium Nanodroplet Isolation Spectroscopy of the NO2 and CH4 Chemical Systems

Helium nanodroplet isolation spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying molecules without having a large interaction between the host and the dopant. It is also able to act as a reaction vessel which was the inspiration for some of the work presented. In this thesis the infrared spectra of NO 2 and its van der Waals complexes with H 2 O, N 2 , and O 2 are shown. The series of methane and its deuterated derivatives inside of helium nanodroplets are also reported. These were acquired by using a bolometer to measure beam depletion. The molecules were excited with light produced by an Acculight continuous wave OPO in the 3.2 – 3.9 m region. Saturation experiments, employing a Perry Cell, examining the NO 2  1 + 3 R(0) line and the CH 4  3 R(0) will also be reported. Finally the microwave gas phase spectra of trans-N 2 O 4 will be presented. The ab initio structure is shown and its good agreement with the experimentally determined structure. This is the first time that N 2 O 4 has been reported in the gas phase.

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