Spectra of C2 in Solidified Gases at 4° and 20°K

Absorption features attributed to C2 have been observed for carbon in solid Ar, Kr, Xe, N2, CO2, and SF6 matrices at 4° and 20°K. For the CO2 matrix, five well‐defined bands of the A 3Πg—X 3Πu Swan system and four bands believed to be the forbidden A 3Πg—x 1Σg+ system were obtained. For other matrices the bands were weak, wide, and few in number, making identification difficult. Measured vibrational constants are given. Swan system f‐values for C2 in these matrices were measured and are in agreement with measured values for the gas phase. Measurements of C2 emission and absorption in a Xe matrix showed that the first vibrational level of the ground electronic state was populated in the matrix at 4°K, and that the vibrational energy was not easily removed. Absorptions from excited vibrational levels of the ground state also were observed for other matrices.