Precision measurements and test of molecular theory in highly excited vibrational states of H2 (v = 11)

T. Madhu Trivikram, M. L. Niu, P. Wcisło, W. Ubachs, E. J. Salumbides*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Accurate EF1Σg+-X1Σg+ transition energies in molecular hydrogen were determined for transitions originating from levels with highly excited vibrational quantum number, v = 11, in the ground electronic state. Doppler-free two-photon spectroscopy was applied on vibrationally excited H2∗, produced via the photodissociation of H2S, yielding transition frequencies with accuracies of 45 MHz or 0.0015 cm−1. An important improvement is the enhanced detection efficiency by resonant excitation to autoionizing 7 pπ electronic Rydberg states, resulting in narrow transitions due to reduced ac-Stark effects. Using known EF level energies, the level energies of X(v = 11, J = 1, 3–5) states are derived with accuracies of typically 0.002 cm−1. These experimental values are in excellent agreement with and are more accurate than the results obtained from the most advanced ab initio molecular theory calculations including relativistic and QED contributions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number294
JournalApplied Physics B. Lasers and Optics
Volume122
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2016

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