THE PURE ROTATIONAL SPECTRUM OF YCL

The microwave spectra of two isotopic species of YCl have been measured using a cavity pulsed microwave Fourier transform spectrometer. The samples were prepared using laser ablation of Y metal in the presence of a Cl2/Ne mixture and were studied entrained in supersonic jets of Ne. Precise values of rotational and centrifugal distortion constants and of Cl nuclear hyperfine constants have been obtained. The latter have been used to examine the electronic structure of the molecule. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.