The Millimeter/Submillimeter Spectrum and Rotational Rest Frequencies of MgCH[TINF]3[/TINF]([FORMULA][F][A][AC]X[/AC][AC][d5][/AC][/A][/F][/FORMULA] [TSUP]2[/TSUP][ITAL]A[/ITAL][TINF]1[/TINF])

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Abstract
The pure rotational spectrum of the free radical MgCH3( 2A1) has been measured in the laboratory for the first time using millimeter/submillimeter direct absorption spectroscopy. The molecule was made in a DC discharge by the reaction of magnesium vapor and dimethyl mercury. Ten rotational transitions of this species were observed in the range 176-374 GHz. MgCH3 is a symmetric top molecule with net spin angular momentum. Consequently, both K structure and spin-rotation interactions were observed in every rotational transition. The data were analyzed with a2A1 Hamiltonian and rotational, centrifugal distortion, and fine-structure parameters were accurately determined. These measurements will now enable a search for this radical in interstellar and circumstellar sources to be conducted using millimeter/submillimeter telescopes.