FAR-INFRARED SPECTRA OF SMALL GALLIUM-PHOSPHIDE, ARSENIDE, AND ANTIMONIDE MOLECULES IN RARE-GAS MATRICES AT 4-K

GaX, Ga2X, and GaX2 molecules, where X = P, As, and Sb, have been prepared by laser vaporization of the corresponding GaX crystals into argon and krypton gases and condensed on a gold surface at 4 K. Their far-infrared spectra (50-350 cm-1) were observed in absorption and interpreted via the natural abundance of isotopes of Ga and Sb. Trends in the spectra, in the derived force constants, and in the structural information are evident in the series. The analyses for Ga2As and GaAS2 indicated C2v symmetries but with angles near 100-degrees and 40-degrees, respectively, in accord with earlier theoretical calculations.