Infrared spectrum of the water dimer in solid nitrogen. II. Temperature and irradiation effects

The water dimer in solid nitrogen may exist in a stable and a metastable form. Transitions between the two forms are initiated by infrared radiation absorbed by the dimer fundamentals. The metastable form reverts to the stable form by a dark process. D-donating DOH may be transformed into H-donating HOD by infrared radiation. H-donating HOD is metastable and changes back to D-donating DOH by a dark (thermal) process.