Vibrational Quantum Analysis of the Potassium Infrared Absorption Bands

The heads of the red system of the K₂ molecule have been remeasured, and twenty six new bands have been found. The vibrational constants derived from our measurements are: ωₑ^_^''=92.64 cm^-1, ωₑ^_^''x^''=0.354 cm^-1, ωₑ^_^'=74.73 cm^-1, and ωₑ^_^'x^'=0.327 cm^-1.The bands of the infrared system of K₂ (λ7735 to λ8850) have been measured and a new vibrational analysis for this system is given, which removes the objections inherent in the analysis of Ritschl and Villars. The constants for this system, as found by us, are: ωₑ^_^''=92.64 cm^-1, ωₑ^_^''x^''=0.354 cm^-1, ωₑ^_^'=69.09 cm^-1, and ωₑ^_^'x^'=0.153 cm^-1. It is shown that the upper state of each of the two systems dissociates into a normal and a ²P excited atom. The energies of dissociation obtained for the upper levels of the two systems agree to within 0.02 volts, the average value being 2.41 volts. From this average value we obtain for the heat of dissociation of the lower level 0.81 volts, while from the formula (ωₑ^_^'')²4ωₑ^_^''x^'', we obtain 0.75 volts.