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Updated: Jul 18, 2025

Characterizing Far-infrared Laser Emissions and the Measurement of Their Frequencies
Published on: December 18, 2015
Mid-infrared Laser Spectroscopy of Jet-Cooled Formic Acid Trimer: Mode-Dependent Line Broadening in the C-O
Arman Nejad1, Xiang Li2, Tianxin Zhu2
1Institute of Physical Chemistry, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Tammannstraße 6, Göttingen 37077, Germany.
Abstract:
Building on recent progress in the vibrational spectroscopy of the formic acid trimer, we present the first high-resolution measurements of the jet-cooled laser absorption spectrum of (HCOOH)3. The spectra of the lowest- and highest-frequency C-O stretching fundamentals are analyzed whereas the third band is not observed, complicated by monomer and dimer absorptions at 1219 cm-1 (8.2 μm). Vibration-rotation parameters are obtained for the band at 1172.31512(68) cm-1 whereas the C-O stretch at 1246.33(5) cm-1 exhibits a significantly larger breadth, allowing only resolution of the coarse PQR structure. Vibrational predissociation can be ruled out, and intramolecular vibrational redistribution mechanisms are discussed, particularly coupling to the concerted proton exchange within the cyclic dimer subunit. Ultimately, the question remains open. The prospects of high-resolution measurements of other trimer bands or isotope substitution experiments, which might assist in revealing the mode-specificity of the underlying broadening mechanisms, are discussed.
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