Electronic spectroscopy of yttrium monosulfide: molecular beam studies and density functional calculations
The yttrium monosulfide molecule (YS) has been investigated using the techniques of molecular beam fluorescence spectroscopy and density functional theory. Fluorescence spectra in the region of the electronic orgin of the B2∑+ ← X2∑+ system (ν00 = 14 826.07 cm−1) were recorded using a ring dye laser, the experimental resolution being 120 MHz. The B2Σ+ ← X2Σ+ (0,0) band, and a cold band of a hitherto unreported 4Π±1/2 ← X2Σ+ system (νυ′0 = 14 926.02 cm−1) have been rotationally analysed. (The ± 1/2 notation implies that the state has either 4Π1/2 or 4Π−1/2 symmetry.) Improved molecular rotational constants were obtained for the ν = 0 levels of the X2Σ+ and B2Σ+ states (r0(X) = 2.27191(17) Å, r0(B) = 2.32202(19) Å, γ0(B) = −0.15150(14) cm−1 (2σ error bounds)). The magnetic hyperfine and spin rotation parameters determined for the X2Σ+ state were found to be in good agreement with previous work. An accurate bond length has been derived for the upper vibrational level of the 14 926.0 cm−1 band (rυ′ = 2.49510(16) Å). The ν = 1 level of the B2Σ+ state is found to be strongly perturbed by another vibrational level of the 4Π±1/2 state. The spin-forbidden 4Π±1/2 ← X2Σ+ transition gains intensity via spin-orbit mixing between the 4Π state and the B2Σ+ state. Radiative lifetimes of the observed bands were measured by digitizing the fluorescence decay traces obtained upon excitation with a pulsed dye laser. The results of the density functional treatment provide broad confirmation of the experimental measurements. A molecular orbital description of the bonding in the YS molecule is presented.