Overtone spectroscopy of H2D+ and D2H+ using laser induced reactions

The method of laser induced reaction is used to obtain high-resolution IR spectra of H2D+ and D2H+ in collision with n-H-2 at a nominal temperature of 17 K. For this purpose three cw-laser systems have been coupled to a 22-pole ion trap apparatus, two commercial diode laser systems in the ranges of 6100-6600 cm(-1) and 6760-7300 cm(-1), respectively, and a high-power optical parametric oscillator tunable in the range of 2600-3200 cm(-1). In total, 27 new overtone and combination transitions have been detected for H2D+ and D2H+, as well as a weak line in the nu(1) vibrational band of H2D+ (2(20)<- 1(01)) at 3164.118 cm(-1). The line positions are compared to high accuracy ab initio calculations, showing small but mode-dependent differences, being largest for three vibrational quanta in the nu(2) symmetric bending of H2D+. Within the experimental accuracy, the relative values of the ab initio predicted Einstein B coefficients are confirmed. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.