15min:

M. EIDELSBERG, J. L. LEMAIRE, Observatoire de Paris, Paris, France; S. R. FEDERMAN, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606; G. STARK, A. N. HEAYS, Department of Physics, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481; L. GAVILAN, Observatoire de Paris, Paris, France; J. H. FILLION, Université PVI UMPC, Paris, France; F. ROSTAS, Observatoire de Paris, Paris, France; J. R. LYONS, IGPP, University of Califormia, Los Angeles, CA 90095; P. L. SMITH, Department of Physics, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481; N. DE OLIVEIRA, D. JOYEUX, M. ROUDJANE, L. NAHON, Synchrotron SOLEIL, Saint Aubin, France.

We are conducting experiments on the DESIRS beam-line at the SOLEIL Synchrotron to acquire the necessary data on oscillator strengths and predissociation rates for modeling CO photochemistry in astronomical environments. A VUV Fourier Transform Spectrometer provides a resolving power of about 350,000, allowing us to discern individual lines in electronic transitions. Here we focus on results for six overlapping bands seen in spectra of ¹²C¹⁶O and compare them with earlier determinations. Absorption from the ground electronic level, X ^{1 +} v''~=~0, to the upper levels 4p (2), II ¹ , 4p (2), 5p (0), 5p (0), and I ¹ was analyzed. Our results are the first to provide data on each band. The spectra also reveal a continuum feature that was modeled, but its identification is not known at the present time.