Note on the Ultraviolet Absorption Systems of Benzene Vapor

Abstract
An attempt has been made to give a coherent interpretation of the absorption systems of benzene vapor in the far ultraviolet including the Rydberg series. The following assignments are proposed: A forbidden transition of symmetry 1A1g1B1u is suggested for the bands at 2050 to 1850A and an allowed 1A1g1Eu transition for the much more intense bands at 1850 to 1650A. The continuous background in the latter region may possibly be due to a transition involving a C–H dissociation. The observed two Rydberg series can both be assigned to allowed transitions of symmetry 1A1g1Eu.