The spin-forbidden vacuum-ultraviolet absorption spectrum of 14N15N

Abstract

Photoabsorption spectra of ¹⁴N¹⁵N were recorded at high resolution with a vacuum-ultraviolet Fourier-transform spectrometer fed by synchrotron radiation in the range of 81-100 nm. The combination of high column density (3 × 10¹⁷ cm^-2) and low temperature (98 K) allowed for the recording of weak spin-forbidden absorption bands' exciting levels of triplet character. The triplet states borrow intensity from ¹Π_u states of Rydberg and valence character while causing their predissociation. New predissociation linewidths and molecular constants are obtained for the states C³Π_u(v = 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 21), G³Π_u(v = 0, 1, 4), and F³Π_u(v = 0). The positions and widths of these levels are shown to be well-predicted by a coupled-Schrödinger equation model with empirical parameters based on experimental data on ¹⁴N₂ and ¹⁵N₂ triplet levels.