Far-infrared vibration–rotation-tunneling spectroscopy of Ar–NH3: Intermolecular vibrations and effective angular potential energy surface

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Abstract
Two new intermolecular vibration–rotation‐tunneling (VRT) bands of Ar–NH3 have been measured using tunable far infrared laser spectroscopy. We have unambiguously assigned these and a previously measured FIR band [Gwo et al., Mol. Phys. 7 1, 453 (1990)] as Π(10, n=0)←Σ(00, n=0), Σ(10, n=0)←Σ(00, n=0), and Σ(00, n=1)←Σ(00, n=0). The three upper states of these are found to be strongly mixed by anisotropy and Coriolis effects. A simultaneous least squares fit of all transitions has yielded vibrational frequencies, rotational and centrifugal distortion constants, and a Coriolis parameter as well as quadrupole hyperfine coupling constants for the upper states. An effective angular potential energy surface for Ar–NH3 in its lowest stretching state has been determined from these data, after explicitly accounting for the effects of bend stretch interactions. Features of the surface include a global minimum at the near T‐shaped configuration (θ=90°), a 30 cm−1 to 60 cm−1 barrier to rotation at θ=180° (or 0°), and a very low barrier or possibly a secondary minimum at θ=0° (or 180°). Both attractive and repulsive interactions are shown to contribute significantly to the anisotropic forces in the complex. Comparison with ab initio calculations are presented.