Rotational study of carbon monoxide solvated with helium atoms

Abstract

High resolution microwave and millimeter-wave spectra of HeN-CO clusters with N up to 10, produced in a molecular expansion, were observed. Two series of J = 1-0 transitions were detected, which correspond to the a-type and b-type J = 1-0 transitions of He1-CO. The B rotational constant initially decreases with N and reaches a minimum at N = 3. Its subsequent rise indicates the transition from a molecular complex to a quantum solvated system already for N = 4. For N > or =6, the B value becomes larger than that of He1-CO, indicating an almost free rotation of CO within the helium environment.