Electronic Spectra of Metallic Hydrides

Abstract

The Project on the investigation of electronic spectra of metallic hydrides was undertaken to study the various features of the Molecular states of the hydrides of graps I,II and III elements by observing the spectra of these molecules. By analysing the spectrum the molecular states are established. The experimentally determined states are regarded as significant finding in this field of studies. We had confined ourselves to this. object and to realise this the following procedure was adapted. The 3.4 M.Elbert Spectrograph was set up for making spectroscopic studies in absorption and emission. The mounting and calibration was carefully done. In emission, the source, like high pressure and low pressure (water cooled) ares, hollow cathode sources and the proper electrical waits were built. Spectra of ZnH, CCH and AlH were studied in emission. To undertake absorption studies, a high temperature resistance furnace was built. A 450W Xe arc was set up for background source. The mounting of the arc and the power supply were constructed. Spectra of NaH and Na2 molecules are being studied on this set up. The whole unit along with the external optics works very well. Analysing some of the important spectra of SrH BaH and Cah obtained by Dr. Aslam Khan formed an important part of this project. The spectra were found to consist of a number of difficult systems named as complexes. We successfully analysed these systems and established a number of new molecular states not known before. Hydrides of group II elements give similar spectra. In order to see the characteristics of the molecular states of these molecules, more potential curves were drawn of each state known to date. This work has given us the latest position of the known state in the hydrides of group II elements and future plans thus can be adopted more rationally. The determination of band constants of the bands of the systems of hydride and deuterides thus established was a significant contribution during the tenure of this project. Six payers in all have been published as a result of these studies; two in Pakistan, three in Jour. Phys. B, England and one in Nuove Ciment, Italy. We hope to get three or four more papers published in near future. This work done by us was also presented by me in a seminar at the Winter College on atomic and molecular physics, l977, Trieste, Italy.