ROBERT R. BOUSQUET, HIYUN KIM, TIMOTHY C. STEIMLE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287.
The laser excitation spectrum of molecules produced in a molecular beam formed by laser ablation of a platinum rod in the presence of a methane/argon mixture in a supersonic free-jet expansion has been recorded. A series of bands observed at 18200, 18440 and 18660~cm-1 is attributed to PtC2. The molecule is proposed to have a T-shaped structure with C2v symmetry, analogous to YC2 . The dispersed fluorescence spectra observed by pumping the bands show progressions in both 2 (a1, Pt-(C2) st. ) and 3 (b2, Pt-(C2) rock ) in addition to several bands involving combinations of these modes. Preliminary analysis has yielded frequencies 2'' = 485 cm-1 and 3'' = 223 cm-1. Isotopic substitution spectra have also been recorded using carbon-13 substituted methane in the carbon source. A discussion of the vibrational analysis will be given.