title: On the electric dipole moments of asymmetric tops: measurement by high-resolution electronic spectroscopy in the gas phase.
abstract: Reported here are Stark-effect measurements of the permanent electric dipole moments of two structural isomers of aminobenzonitrile, 2ABN and 3ABN, using high-resolution laser molecular beam techniques. When combined with previous results on 4ABN, the data show that each structural isomer has a unique dipole moment, in both its ground (S(0)) and electronically excited (S(1)) states, thereby providing a means of distinguishing them. Possible applications of the method to other, biologically relevant molecules are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Pratt