ISSN:
1089-7690
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
The electronic states of AlN with excitation energies below about 35 000 cm−1 have been studied at the CASSCF and MRCI levels of theory. Less elaborate calculations have been performed for the low-lying states of AlN+. Although the results are not definitive, they strongly suggest a 3Π ground state for AlN with a very low-lying 3Σ− state, in analogy with the Al2 molecule. All of the strong transitions however involve the lowest 3Π state. The 3Π–3Π AlN band system observed in emission is assigned as the C3Π–X 3Π transition. The C 3Π radiative lifetime is estimated as 151, 163, and 175 ns for v'=0,1,2, respectively. However, these lifetimes may be significantly shortened due to predissociation by the (1) 5Π state. The calculated De of 2.35 eV for the ground state is about half that of the isovalent BN molecule. Thus the bonding in AlN is significantly weaker than for BN, owing to the smaller overlaps of the valence orbitals. Finally, transition moment functions are presented for many of the dipole-allowed transitions to aid further spectroscopic studies of AlN.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.455266
Permalink