Cavity ring-down spectroscopy of photochemically produced NaH for the determination of relative dipole transition moments

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) has been used for spectroscopic studies and to measure dipole transition moments of photochemically produced sodium hydride. In our experiment, NaH was formed within the cavity after 3s-3p excitation of sodium in a hydrogen atmosphere with a second dye laser. The reaction product, sodium hydride, was probed in the near-UV part of the absorption spectrum at 382 nm with a 4 mu s delay to the excitation pulse using the cavity ring-down technique employing a pulsed laser source. Dipole transition moments of the order of 1.0 x 10(-30) Cm of isolated lines in the A(1) Sigma(+) <-- X-1 Sigma(+) NaH transition band were measured.