THE b1Σ+–X3Σ− BAND SYSTEM OF NCl
When a mixture of N2 and Cl2 is pumped rapidly through a mild microwave discharge, an orange afterglow is observed downstream from the discharge. The spectrum of this weak emission consists of a prominent double-headed band, the strongest head lying at 6 648.6 Å, and a number of weaker similar bands forming three sequences. Observed isotopic shifts have been used to identify the emitter as NCl. The rotational analysis of the strongest (0–0) band, photographed with high resolution, shows that these bands represent the b1Σ+–X3Σ− transition of the NCl molecule. The vibrational and rotational constants were determined for both states; we find ωe′ = 935.6 cm−1, ωo″ = 827.0 cm−1, γ0′ = 1.565 3 Å, and γ0″ = 1.608 3 Å.