The rotational and fine-structure spectrum of FeH, studied by far-infrared laser magnetic resonance

Transitions between the spin-rotational levels of the FeH radical in the upsilon=0 level of the X (4)Delta ground state have been detected by the technique of laser magnetic resonance at far-infrared wavelengths. Both pure rotational and fine-structure transitions have been observed; lambda-type doubling is resolved on all the observed transitions. The energy levels of FeH are strongly affected by the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and cannot be modeled accurately by an effective Hamiltonian. The data are therefore fitted to an empirical formula to yield term values and g factors for the various spin-rotational levels involved. Many of the resonances show a doubling that arises from the proton hyperfine structure. These splittings are analyzed in a similar manner.