title: Electronic spectroscopy of jet-cooled YbNH3.
abstract: We report the first spectroscopic study of a complex consisting of a rare earth atom in combination with ammonia. Using two-color resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy, the lowest energy electronic transition of YbNH(3) has been found in the near-infrared. The spectrum arises from a spin-forbidden transition between the (1)A(1) ground electronic state and the lowest (3)E excited electronic state. The transition is metal centered and approximately correlates with the Yb 6s6p (3)P ← 6s(2) (1)S transition. The observation of clear spin-orbit structure in the spectrum confirms the C(3v) symmetry of YbNH(3). Vibrational structure is also observed in the REMPI spectrum, which is dominated by excitation of the Yb-N stretching vibration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicola M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Tonge
authors.forename: Cassandra A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rusher
authors.forename: Nitika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Varriale
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ellis