Abstract

The CN free radical is commonly observed in flames, in the combustion of propellants and in a variety of astronomical sources. The A²Π-X²Σ⁺ and the B²Σ⁺-X²Σ⁺ electronic transitions were observed in a corona-excited supersonic jet expansion source using methyl azide (CH₃N₃) in helium. The rotationally cold but vibrationally and electronically hot spectra of CN were recorded at high resolution during the course of our work¹ on CH₃N.

© 1992 Optical Society of America