15min:

Y. KROUTI, Laboratoire de Physique atomique et moléculaire, Faculté des Sciences Ain Chock B. P. 5366 Maârif, Casablanca, MOROCCO; A. POCLET, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules, UMR CNRS 8523 Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Laser et Applications, Université de Lille I59655, Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, FRANCE; T. HIRAO, Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA N2L 3G1; B. PINCHEMEL, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules, UMR CNRS 8523 Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Laser et Applications, Université de Lille I59655, Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, FRANCE; AND P. F. BERNATH, Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA N2L 3G1.

The X ² _3/2, A ² _5/2 (161 cm^-1) and B ^{2 +} (1,768 cm^-1) low-lying states of NiCl have been recently identified. Transitions linking these states to upper [21.9] ² _5/2, [24.5] ² _3/2 and [24.9] ² _1/2 states have been rotationally analyzed. Laser induced fluorescence experiments allowed the identification of the X ² _1/2 (382 cm^-1) and A ² _3/2 (1,646 cm^-1) spin-orbit components. All the low-lying states of NiCl associated with the nickel 3 d atomic orbital are now observed. In addition we identified a new electronic state located at 21,608 cm^-1 . This state is linked to all the five spin-orbit components of the X, A and B states. High resolution Fourier transform experiments made possible the analysis of three of these transitions. Laser induced dispersed fluorescence suggest that this state is also linked to a new low-lying state (1,378 cm^-1 ) which could be a component of a quartet state of NiCl.