2nd International Conference
Laser M2P

J. Phys. IV France 01 (1991) C7-663-C7-666
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:19917177

EMISSION SPECTRA FROM THE CHEMICAL REACTION OF HEATED Cu WITH METASTABLE OXYGEN AND Cl₂, COMPARISON WITH LASER INDUCED FLUORESCENCE AND ABSORPTION SPECTRA OF CuCl₂

A.J. BOUVIER¹, R. BACIS¹, J. BONNET², S. CHURASSY¹, P. CROZET¹, B. ERBA¹, J.B. KOFFEND³, J. LAMARRE², M. LAMRINI¹, D. PIGACHE² and A.J. ROSS<sup>1

1</sup>  Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Ionique et Moléculaire, Bât. 205, Université Lyon I, 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France
²  Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales, BP. 72, F-92322 Châtillon cedex, France
³  The Aerospace Corporation, Box 92957 Los Angeles, California 90009, USA

Abstract
We present the results of a spectroscopic investigation of CuCl₂ vapour obtained from laser induced fluorescence recorded by Fourier transform spectrometry, and give preliminary spectroscopic constants for the [MATH] and [MATH] states of Cu³⁵Cl₂. Coupled with data obtained from absorption experiments on CuCl₂, this work brings us closer to understanding the mechanism of the reaction of copper with chlorine in the presence of singlet oxygen ([MATH]), which is accompanied by an intense red flame. This emission has been proposed as a possible candidate for the production of a visible or infrared chemical laser. We consider this question in view of lifetime measurements on the [MATH] state of the CuCl₂ molecule, now accepted to be the emitting species, and also compare the infrared and visible spectra of CuCl₂ with the chemiluminescence recorded around 1.2 and 0.7 µm.

© EDP Sciences 1991